Blackburn, Ernst Fight to Protect Americans and Deport Illegal Immigrants Convicted of Sex Crimes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After a shocking report revealed that tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with sexual assault convictions are in the country, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and 18 of their colleagues in introducing a bipartisan bill that will allow America to deport sexual offenders currently in the country and block those seeking to enter:

"Led by Border Czar Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris administration has left our southern border wide open to dangerous criminals and national security threats," said Senator Blackburn. "Our Be GONE Act would ensure that illegal immigrants who commit sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence are deported to keep American citizens safe."

"These violent criminals never would have entered America in the first place if we had real border security, but now that they're in our communities, they need to BE GONE," said Senator Ernst. "Since Border Czar Kamala Harris won't protect this country, then I will. My legislation will combat sexual violence by ensuring predators are identified, stopped, and deported."

• Specifically, the Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants (BE GONE) Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to include sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as crimes that are defined as "aggravated felonies."

• The BE GONE Act is co-sponsored by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R- S.C.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).