Bob Dole: “Under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, a number of criminal offenses are deemed deportable offenses. However, although aliens…”

“Under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, a number of criminal offenses are deemed deportable offenses. However, although aliens are deportable for criminal offenses, there are a number of crimes that should be grounds for deportation that are left unaddressed; and the wording of the statute itself uses vague language like crimes of moral turpitude that lack the certainty we should desire. The amendment offered by Senator Coverdell and myself seeks to remedy this problem by making clear that our society will not tolerate crimes against women and children. The criminal law should be a reflection of the best of our values, and it is important that we not only send a message that we will protect our citizens against these assaults, but that we back it up as well. Under our amendment, certain criminal offenses would be grounds for deportation. These offenses include: conviction of a crime of domestic violence; violation of a judicial protection order in a domestic violence context; conviction for stalking; conviction for child abuse, child sexual abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment, and conviction of rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact, or other crimes of sexual violence. Adding these additional and specified categories of offenses closes the existing loopholes.”