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house Bill H.R. 5526

Making Prison Terms Longer for Crimes Committed by Unauthorized Immigrants Who Illegally Reentered the U.S.

Argument in favor

Unauthorized immigrants who are deported and illegally reenter the U.S. and subsequently commit crimes that injure or kill Americans should face longer prison terms.

Richard's Opinion
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04/30/2018
Make the sentence longer. If they weren’t here it wouldn’t be a problem in the first place. I kinda like the way they do it in the Middle East. If they steal cut their hand off if they rape castrate them.
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Gopin2020's Opinion
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04/30/2018
Oh hell yes why wasn’t this done decades ago but only now. Come get vetted, do it right; respect those who came before, respect our laws and our nation, do it legally then you wouldn’t be in prison. How simple is that!
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Jane's Opinion
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04/30/2018
Why hasn’t this already been done? This is how other countries these people are coming from handle it! Perhaps this kind of law will be a deterrent for those trying to enter illegally or already have entered illegally.
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Argument opposed

Increasing prison terms for crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants won’t deter illegal immigration or criminal activity, it’ll only increase federal prison costs.

David's Opinion
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04/30/2018
Our prisons are already overcrowded and in desperate need of reform.
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Rachel's Opinion
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04/30/2018
I don’t feel that this will deter crime and think it will cost more of our tax dollars to keep them in an American jail for longer.
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John's Opinion
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04/30/2018
America already has the most incarcerated people of any industrial nation, including China. Prison is not a magic bullet to solve all the problems of society.
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What is House Bill H.R. 5526?

This bill — known as the VOICES Act — would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to revise its guidelines to make unlawful presence and crimes committed by an unauthorized immigrant who illegally reenters the country aggravating factors for federal crimes. Unauthorized immigrants who unlawfully reenter the country after being deported and injure another person in the course of a crime would face a prison term of 10 to 20 years, while crimes resulting in the death of another person would lead to a sentence of 20 to 40 years. Prison sentences served in state correctional facilities for state crimes wouldn't be allowed to count toward federal sentences.

The VOICES Act’s full title is the Peter, Ellie, and Grayson Victims of Illegal Criminal Entry Act. It’s named after Peter Hacking, a lawful immigrant and volunteer firefighter, and his two children — 4-year old Ellie and 22-month old Grayson were killed an unauthorized immigrant was driving without a license after illegally reentering the U.S. who was sentenced to two years in state prison.

Impact

Unauthorized immigrants convicted for federal crimes; and the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 5526

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

More Information

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) introduced this bill to strengthen legal punishment for crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants after they’ve illegally reentered the country:

“My heart was broken when I learned about the devastating loss of Peter, Ellie and Grayson. This tragedy was caused by someone who was here illegally in the first place. And worse yet, our current laws allowed him to escape with what equated to no additional punishment on top of his existing sentences. I’m glad my colleagues are joining me in my fight to ensure that future tragedies like this will be properly deterred by stopping illegal criminal aliens from falling through the cracks of our criminal justice system. We owe the victims’ families nothing less.”

This legislation has the support 18 of cosponsors in the House, all of whom are Republicans.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Gatsi / iStock)

AKA

Peter, Ellie, and Grayson Victims of Illegal Criminal Entry Act of 2018

Official Title

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for certain sentencing enhancements relating to illegal reentry offenses, and to clarify the manner in which sentences for such offenses are to be served, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on the Judiciary
      Immigration and Citizenship
      Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security
    IntroducedApril 17th, 2018
    Richard's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    04/30/2018
    Make the sentence longer. If they weren’t here it wouldn’t be a problem in the first place. I kinda like the way they do it in the Middle East. If they steal cut their hand off if they rape castrate them.
    Like (38)
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    Share
    David's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/30/2018
    Our prisons are already overcrowded and in desperate need of reform.
    Like (202)
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    Rachel's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/30/2018
    I don’t feel that this will deter crime and think it will cost more of our tax dollars to keep them in an American jail for longer.
    Like (161)
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    John's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/30/2018
    America already has the most incarcerated people of any industrial nation, including China. Prison is not a magic bullet to solve all the problems of society.
    Like (112)
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    Damon's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    No need to spend more tax dollars on criminals.
    Like (44)
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    MinnesotaMom's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    We should be focusing punishments & penalties on employers & recruiters. Businesses who depend on low cost undocumented immigrant labor hire recruiters to go get people & bring them to the U.S. These recruiters use false promises, exaggeration & violence to get workers to the U.S. and unscrupulous employers use threats, intimidation, wage theft and other dirty tricks to keep those workers here. If nobody hired undocumented workers they wouldn't come. Their presence is only a side effect of employers' crappy job conditions and unwillingness to pay decent wages & willingness to look the other way in order to hire someone they can pay less.
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    Shinejoy's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    I'm not a fan of the prison industrial complex but if you were a conservative wouldn't you want to deport the person and not pay to incarcerate?
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    BlondieEsquire's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    Adding overt racism back into our laws is a huge step backward. Shame on whomever proposed this piece of garbage.
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    lifearchitect's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    So who loses here? Sounds like the reasoning of an assistant principal of a mediocre middle school.
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    Morgan's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    Illegally entering the country is a separate crime and should be treated as such.
    Like (19)
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    Gopin2020's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    04/30/2018
    Oh hell yes why wasn’t this done decades ago but only now. Come get vetted, do it right; respect those who came before, respect our laws and our nation, do it legally then you wouldn’t be in prison. How simple is that!
    Like (19)
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    Holyruffles's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    INCARCERATION IS ALREADY A HUGE BURDEN ON THE TAX PAYER AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT INCARCERATION DECREASES CRIME
    Like (18)
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    BeStrong's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    We cannot have 2 sets of laws. If we start this, especially in this alternative political climate, we condone manipulation of our justice system against people of color. One Nation, One set of laws.
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    Jordan's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    This is simply going to cost more tax dollars to hold them in an American prison. This isn’t the solution
    Like (15)
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    Jesse's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/30/2018
    The rule of law is based on the idea that justice should be conducted the same for everyone. rich, poor, white, black, man, or woman. who or what someone is should never play a factor in justice or you create a stratified society and undermine the liberty of all people. special punishment for one group based on who they are and the it can go anywhere, tomorrow it is the legal immigrants, then native americans, then black, then poor, then women,then gay or liberal. there can be no rule of law if there is a special exception on punishment for what someone is. this bill strikes at the heart of America and is a giant step on the way to a fascist state where justice is what those in power says and they are the only ones exempt.
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    Marla's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    Oh for G-d’s sake! What a waste of taxpayers money.! If they are convicted for serious and violent crimes and once they complete their sentence and exhaust the legal remedies, just send them to their country of origin. Why would we want to keep them in our prison system any longer? This anti-immigration sentiment that is being fostered in our country is turning illogical and creating lack of compassion and empathy towards immigrants in general. I am all for border control and legal immigration , but let’s us not shoot ourselves in the foot and forget we are a country of immigrants. If we look at history of the waves of immigration throughout our past history there were always sentiments of fear against the new immigrants. When are we going to learn?
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    Judith's Public Comment
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    05/04/2018
    Make prison terms longer for grifters and traitors of the United States who fleece the Americans people every chance they get.
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    Cathy's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    Prisons don't work. Plus, minorities are more often sent to prison.
    Like (9)
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    Randall's Opinion Against
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    05/01/2018
    This sounds like a bill sponsored by the private prisons for increasing revenue. We need to reduce not increase prison population.
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    Catt's Opinion Against
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    04/30/2018
    No. We already use immigrants as our poverty labor force in this country, and it's shameful enough that we do it -- turning them into actual SLAVES is criminal on a level that cannot be borne. Punishment for criminal acts must be directly relevant to the ACTUAL CONVICTION, and not to immigrant status, or in the interests of enriching the Slave Labor Camp Owners!
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