Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) has introduced legislation that would increase interior enforcement and expedite the deportation of criminal aliens. The bill was introduced in the wake of one of his constituents being murdered by a criminal illegal alien awaiting deportation.
Grant Ronnebeck, 21, was gunned down in January while working at a QuikTrip store in Mesa. The man charged with killing him, Apolinar Altamirano, 29, was in the country illegally and had been released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement even though he'd been previously convicted of a felony burglary charge. Altamirano had been awaiting deportation for two years.
Mr. Ronnebeck's story, however, is one of many. According to the Department of Homeland Security in June, between 2010 and 2014, 121 undocumented immigrants who were released while awaiting deportation committed crimes and were later charged with homicide.
Rep. Salmon's proposed legislation would require federal immigration authorities to detain illegal aliens accused or convicted of serious crimes and deport them within 90 days.
In a statement, Rep. Salmon said his legislation is intended to end a "catch and release" policy under President Barack Obama's administration.
"Undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes at the local level are turned over to ICE only to be released later on their own recognizance or on bond."
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