U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has introduced the Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act in the Senate. This legislation, initially proposed by U.S. Congressman Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), aims to establish a new federal offense for illegal or deportable aliens who commit murder in the United States. Concurrently, Rep. Luttrell introduced Sen. Cornyn’s Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act in the House of Representatives, which seeks to enforce President Trump’s Executive Order mandating the death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of murdering American citizens.
Senator Cornyn expressed his concerns about illegal immigration and its impact on public safety: “Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet for illegal immigrants to come into this country and brutally murder innocent Americans,” he said. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring justice for victims and holding perpetrators accountable through severe penalties.
Rep. Luttrell echoed these sentiments, stating that America should not be a refuge for violent criminals: “The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act ensures accountability and sends a clear message that violence will not be tolerated.” He praised Senator Cornyn’s leadership on this issue.
The legislation has garnered support from several senators, including Jim Justice (R-WV), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Tim Scott (R-SC).
The Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act is designed to allow federal prosecution of illegal aliens who commit murder, with potential penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty upon conviction. It addresses jurisdictional challenges by enabling federal intervention when local prosecutors are unable or unwilling to pursue adequate penalties due to resource constraints or partisan considerations.
In May, Sen. Cornyn also introduced the Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act, which would amend the Criminal Code to create an aggravating factor specifically targeting illegal immigrants who murder U.S. citizens. The act supports directing juries towards administering the death penalty in such cases and seeks to fully implement President Trump’s Executive Order from January 2025 concerning capital crimes committed by illegally present aliens.
