“This legislation would increase penalties for any offender who violently assaults a law enforcement officer, including by using a car or truck as a weapon, and sends a clear message that attacks on those who protect and serve will not be tolerated.”
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced the ICE Protection Act, which would increase penalties for offenders who assault or resist law enforcement while using a deadly or dangerous weapon, or injuring an officer in the course of an assault, and add mandatory minimum sentences for offenders who use a vehicle to attack law enforcement:
“The Radical Left has taken up a senseless crusade against our brave men and women in law enforcement, and Democrats’ inflammatory rhetoric has fueled an alarming rise in violence that not only endangers our communities but also harms the very people sworn to keep them safe,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would increase penalties for any offender who violently assaults a law enforcement officer, including by using a car or truck as a weapon, and sends a clear message that attacks on those who protect and serve will not be tolerated.”
“Law enforcement officers put themselves at risk every day to protect our communities, and they deserve to go home safely at the end of every shift. The surge in violence against ICE agents is unacceptable, and Congress has a duty to respond. If you assault an officer with a weapon or try to run them down with a car, you will face justice,” said Sen. Lankford.
“These immigration and customs enforcement officers are red-blooded American patriots doing a tough job to keep our nation safe. Our men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line every single day so we can make it home to our families. They should be supported, not attacked,” said Sen. Mullin. “Those who harm our ICE agents will face the full force and wrath of the American justice system with these increase in penalties. Back the blue.”
“ICE and our other law enforcement officers courageously put their life on the line each time they put on the uniform,” said Sen. Hagerty. “They must be protected from emerging threats as they work to keep our communities safe. The mandatory minimums in this legislation will deter the concerning increase in the use of vehicles to injure our law enforcement officers, so I’m pleased to support it.”
“Federal law enforcement is under attack, and there is no greater example than the recent attacks on ICE agents by radical left-wing open border activists. If you try to attack federal law enforcement, let it be known that the punishment will be swift,” said Sen. Graham. “I am proud to stand with my colleagues in pushing to increase the penalties for these types of brazen attacks.”
“I am proud to join Senator Cornyn as he leads efforts to protect ICE agents and law enforcement who have faced an alarming surge in violent attacks while carrying out their duties,” said Sen. Lummis. “This bill sends a strong message that we are firmly committed to protecting those who serve on the front lines by holding accountable bad actors who would do them harm.”
“Law enforcement officers should be respected, not vilified. I’m glad to work with Senator Cornyn to protect our brave ICE agents, who put their lives on the line to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law,” said Sen. Daines.
Background:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced an “unprecedented increase” of 3,200% in vehicular attacks on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers over the past year. This surge in vehicular attacks and violence against law enforcement is a result of increasingly inflammatory rhetoric from the Left. From outgoing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz calling ICE law enforcement the “modern-day Gestapo,” to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey saying ICE should “get the f**k out of Minneapolis,” to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker outlandishly accusing the United States of “essentially” becoming Nazi Germany, this type of rhetoric and dehumanization against law enforcement must end. Sen. Cornyn’s legislation ensures anyone who uses a vehicle or deadly weapon to severely injure the lives of those who have vowed to protect our communities will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Sen. Cornyn’s ICE Protection Act would:
- Double the statutory maximum sentence under current law for assaulting, resisting, impeding, or interfering with law enforcement while using a deadly or dangerous weapon, or injuring an officer during an assault (20 year to 40 years);
- And add mandatory minimum sentences for using a vehicle as a deadly or dangerous weapon based on the severity of the injury: five years if the assault results in bodily injury, seven years if it results in substantial bodily injury, and ten years if it results in serious bodily injury.
