• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Friday, January 27, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Federal Government

Ernst Introduces Bill to Prevent Sex Offenders Entry Into U.S.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst introduced a bill that blocks sex offenders from immigrating to the United States, and deports those convicted of sexual offenses.

Shane Vander HartbyShane Vander Hart
October 7, 2021
in Federal Government
Reading Time: 3 mins read

DES MOINES, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, introduced a bill on Wednesday that blocks sex offenders from immigrating to the United States, and deports those convicted of sexual offenses.

RELATED POSTS

Ernst calls on White House to reinstate ban on ‘risky research’

Grassley says ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ threatens religious institutions

In O’Brien County, Ernst holds roundtable on fentanyl crisis

 The “BE GONE” Act, or the Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by un-Naturalized Emigrants Act – that would make “sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence” a disqualifying act for those seeking to immigrate to the U.S.—such as those given the temporary status of “humanitarian parole.”

The bill also gives law enforcement the ability to deport those convicted of violent sex crimes or sexual assault and those trying to immigrate. Specifically, it would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 to include sexual assault and other forms of aggravated sexual violence as a disqualifying crime for foreign applicants for residence in the United States and deportable for non-citizen resident immigrants.

“There was no question that our immigration system right now, under the Biden administration, is strained to its limits, all by the crises they created. Properly betting and processing these individuals is a must,” Ernst said on a conference call with Iowa press on Wednesday. 

“We have already seen extremely concerning issues and the Biden administration’s ability to carry out those vetting processes properly. Another key obstacle that we must address immediately is making sure that criminal sexual predators, who are seeking to take advantage of our strained immigration system to enter our country, are identified, stopped, and, if found here, expeditiously deported,” she stated. 

“Right now, the current laws on the books don’t effectively target those who have been convicted of sexual assault and sexual violence. We desperately need to update these laws to make sure we block sexual predators from immigrating to the U.S.,” Ernst added.

She said the nation had seen sex trafficking, forced marriages, and female genital mutilation among those coming to the southern border. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“Immigrant women particularily has significantly increased vulnerability to recurring sexual assault. The bottom line is that predatory sexual violence cannot continue to go unchecked in our immigration system, we need to make a change,” Ernst argued.

The bill has eleven co-sponsors, including U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. 

“Every State Is A Border State”

Ernst said the southern border crisis is a humanitarian crisis and the number of people coming into the U.S. illegally is “exploding.” 

Customs and Border Protection reports over 208,000 people attempting to cross the border in August alone, representing a 318 percent increase during the time one year ago. 

“This situation shows no signs of improving. By the end of the year, the U.S. is expected to see more than 2.3 million people attempt to illegally cross our southern border. Folks, these numbers are staggering. The men and women that make up our law enforcement on the southern border are overwhelmed. It is a dire situation. We have thousands of people pouring into our country, and the Biden administration is woefully unprepared to handle it,” Ernst said.

In light of Gov. Kim Reynolds visiting the southern border, Ernst argued that Iowans should be concerned about the border.

“This makes every state in our nation, a border state, these illegal immigrants, not only are they crossing into the country, untested for COVID, which makes it possible to transmit even more cases throughout the nation. But we also see those, as I mentioned before, are sexual offenders. They are trafficking human beings for sex purposes. They are trafficking drugs that come into the state of Iowa and disrupt our communities. They’re trafficking guns into the United States. So this is an issue that every community and every state should be concerned about,” she said.

Ernst said that governors need to “actively engage” the Biden Administration on this issue.

In an email following the press call, The Iowa Torch asked Ernst whether she supported Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision to send Iowa law enforcement officers to the border.

She said she supported Reynolds’ decisions.

“With fentanyl seizures at the southern border reaching historic levels, and overdose deaths in the U.S. surging, it’s clear that the issues at the Southern Border impact Iowans here in the state, and that Biden’s failed border policies have made every state a border state,” Ernst told The Iowa Torch.

Tags: 117th CongressChuck GrassleyHuman TraffickingIllegal ImmigrationJoni ErnstKim ReynoldsU.S. Senate
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Sherman: Clear Creek Amana Provides an Example for the Entire State

Next Post

Iowa Business, Education Leaders Push for Infrastructure Bill to Advance Renewable Energy

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of The Iowa Torch.

Related Posts

Reynolds signs bill creating education savings accounts
State Government

Reynolds signs bill creating education savings accounts

January 24, 2023
Study: $1,702 Collected in Property Taxes Per Capita in Iowa
Opinion

Hendrickson & Williams: To achieve meaningful property tax relief, right size government 

January 24, 2023
Reynolds Signs Charter School Expansion Bill Into Law
Opinion

Reynolds: An open letter to Iowans about school choice

January 23, 2023
The Iowa House Education Reform Committee debating HSB 1 on January 18, 2023.
State Government

School choice bill advances through legislative committees

January 19, 2023
Iowa National Guard’s top general announces retirement
State Government

Iowa National Guard’s top general announces retirement

January 19, 2023
Holt: Education, Free Speech & Justice for All
Opinion

Holt: It’s time to empower parents through school choice

January 12, 2023
Next Post
Iowa Business, Education Leaders Push for Infrastructure Bill to Advance Renewable Energy

Iowa Business, Education Leaders Push for Infrastructure Bill to Advance Renewable Energy

Reynolds, GOP Governors Press Biden on Border Crisis

Reynolds, GOP Governors Press Biden on Border Crisis

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Opening Day Remarks by Senate President Jake Chapman

Opening Day Remarks by Senate President Jake Chapman

January 11, 2021
Iowa allocates $6 Million in federal funds for ‘Field of Dreams’ TV Series

Iowa allocates $6 Million in federal funds for ‘Field of Dreams’ TV Series

July 7, 2022
Axne Calls for President Trump’s Cabinet to Invoke the 25th Amendment

Axne Calls Vaccine Opponents ‘Crazies,’ Says Christian Right Is Weaponizing Religion

September 30, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Reynolds signs bill creating education savings accounts

    Reynolds signs bill creating education savings accounts

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Miller-Meeks: Improving American healthcare

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Local Rap Artist’s Non-Profit Receives Grant to Help At-Risk Youth Graduate

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa House Republicans outline priorities with first 13 bills

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa Senate Passes Governor’s School Choice Bill

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.