On the recordMarch 6, 2024
as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and reserving the right to object, I want to make it clear that we can all agree: Noncitizens who are convicted of committing violent crime should be detained and removed from the United States, period. Under current law--under current law--any noncitizen who entered the country illegally, violated the terms of their status, or had their visa revoked, can be ordered detained by ICE officials. Current law-- current law--also requires the detention of individuals with serious criminal convictions and those who have committed murder, rape, or any crime of violence or theft offense with a term of imprisonment of at least 1 year. The law also gives ICE the discretion to detain or release a noncitizen in cases where a noncitizen has merely been charged but not convicted. This bill that we are considering now from the Senator from Iowa would require ICE to detain any individual charged with a crime that resulted in death or serious bodily injury of another person, pending their criminal case, no matter what the circumstances or the nature of the crime, and no exceptions. As just one example, a victim of trafficking or domestic violence who defended themselves against an abuser would have to be detained under the law. Most immigrants in the United States are law-abiding individuals who are seeking a better life.…





