Grant's Law This bill requires the Department of Justice to detain any alien found to be unlawfully present in the United States and arrested for various crimes that would render the alien deportable or inadmissible. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may release the alien to an appropriate authority for proceedings related to the arrest, but DHS must resume custody for any period that the alien is not in such authority's custody. If the alien is not convicted of crimes for which the alien was arrested, DHS must continue to detain the alien until removal proceedings are completed. DHS must complete such removal proceedings within 90 days.
If enacted, HB 87 will alter various aspects of the Immigration and Nationality Act, particularly concerning the treatment of undocumented immigrants upon their arrest for criminal activities. It will require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assume custody of these individuals and expedite removal proceedings, thereby making the process more robust and time-sensitive. The bill stipulates a 90-day timeframe for DHS to complete these removal proceedings, thereby potentially streamlining the current processes involved in detaining and deporting criminal aliens.
House Bill 87, also known as 'Grant's Law', mandates the detention of individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States and have been arrested for specific criminal offenses. This bill emphasizes the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security, modifying existing immigration laws to facilitate the detention of undocumented immigrants who have been apprehended for crimes that would typically render them inadmissible or deportable under current regulations. The primary objective of this legislation is to enhance enforcement measures against individuals engaging in further illegal activities while present in the country.
Notable points of contention surrounding HB 87 focus on the implications of mandatory detention and the potential for increased enforcement actions against specific communities. Critics may argue that the bill disproportionately affects certain groups, infringing upon their rights and subjecting them to harsher consequences for criminal behavior, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their immigration status. Proponents, however, advocate for the bill as a necessary step in ensuring that criminal behavior by undocumented individuals is met with appropriate legal repercussions, thereby contributing to public safety.