Press Releases

Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Congressmen Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Anthony D’Esposito, and Brandon Williams (NY-22) in introducing the Illegal Offender Registry Act. The bill creates a database within the Department of Homeland Security to include all illegal immigrants who are convicted of a felony. This database will include names, crimes committed, and the offenders' current place of residence. 

While felonies are a deportable offense, because of sanctuary state policies in New York, there is a lack of coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement. This lack of coordination has often led to tragedy, as was the case when an innocent 15-year old girl in the Capital Region was sexually assault by an illegal immigrant, a 21 year-old girl in Central New York was brutally murder by an illegal immigrant, and an illegal immigrant raped and strangled a young woman in the Catskills. The Illegal Offender Registry Act aims to ensure law enforcement and the general public are aware of the immigration status of apprehended individuals and prevent future tragedies such as these.

“New York’s sanctuary policies are getting people killed and it’s incumbent on Congress to do something about it. That’s why I’m proud to join my fellow New Yorkers and Representatives Molinaro, D’Esposito, and Williams in introducing the Illegal Offender Registry Act. This vital legislation will create a database within the Department of Homeland Security to include all illegal immigrants who are convicted of a felony, ensuring law enforcement and the general public are made aware of their status and facilitating their deportation,” said Congressman Lawler.

“New Yorkers are angry and they should be. Even after these heinous crimes, President Biden still refuses to close the border and Governor Hochul is still keeping New York’s sanctuary policies intact. They have completely tied the hands of local law enforcement and ICE. We need this registry so they can do their jobs and prevent more violent crimes,” said Congressman Molinaro.

“The unholy alliance between Joe Biden with his porous border policies and Kathy Hochul and her ‘Sanctuary State’ agenda has allowed migrants to come to this country illegally and openly commit crimes across New York, all while law enforcement professionals find their hands tied. In the absence of action by Biden or Hochul, Congress can take a palpable step towards eradicating illegal migrant crime by passing this legislation, which will help take the cuffs off cops and improve public safety across New York,” said Congressman D'Esposito.

“Governor Hochul and far-left extremists in Albany bear responsibility for each reoffending illegal migrant convicted of a felony – they should have been handed over to federal authorities and deported. New Yorkers don’t deserve to live in fear because their elected officials refuse to place the safety of American citizens first,” said Congressman Williams.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.