Deport Alien Gang Members Act
Deport Alien Gang Members Act
Plain Language Summary
# Deport Alien Gang Members Act Summary **What the bill would do:** If passed, this bill would make it easier to deport non-U.S. citizens who are associated with criminal gangs. It would prevent gang members from entering the country in the first place and remove those already here. The bill also creates a process for officially designating groups as "criminal gangs" for legal purposes. **Key provisions and who it affects:** The bill would require mandatory detention (holding without bail) for suspected gang members and block them from accessing several immigration protections, including asylum, temporary protected status, and special visas for immigrant children—with limited exceptions for those helping law enforcement.
Immigration officers would be allowed to act on suspicion alone ("reason to believe") rather than requiring proof of gang membership. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) in the 119th Congress. It has not advanced further in the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Deport Alien Gang Members ActThis bill makes non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) associated with criminal gangs inadmissible for entry into the United States and deportable. The bill also establishes procedures to designate groups as criminal gangs.An individual shall be inadmissible if certain officers or agencies know or have reason to believe that the individual is or was a criminal gang member or has participated or aided such a group's illegal activities. An individual who is or was a member of such a gang, has participated or aided such a group's illegal activities, or seeks to enter or has entered the United States in furtherance of such activity shall be deportable.Such individuals must be subject to mandatory detention. Furthermore, such individuals shall not be eligible for (1) asylum; (2) temporary protected status; (3) special immigrant juvenile visas; or (4) parole, unless they are assisting the government in a law enforcement matter.The bill defines a criminal gang as a group of five or more persons (1) where one of its primary purposes is committing specified criminal offenses and its members have engaged in a continuing series of such offenses within the past five years, or (2) that has been designated as a criminal gang by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The bill also establishes procedures for DHS to designate a group as a criminal gang, including notifying Congress, publishing a notice in the Federal Register, and providing an opportunity for the group to petition for review of the designation.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.