Press Releases
RELEASE: Congressman Moran’s Bill, the Visa Overstays Penalties Act, Passes House Judiciary Committee as part of Border Security Package
Washington, DC,
April 20, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) released the following statement after his bill, the Visa Overstays Penalties Act , was included as a section in the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023 , which advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee: “Before the Biden Administration’s tenure, the majority of illegal immigrants who have made the United States their home have done so by overstaying their visa with little to no repercussion. My legislation will discourage this behavior by increasing civil and criminal penalties for those who overstay their visa. These penalties are in addition to the already existing re-entry ban for those who overstay their visas in the United States. We are a nation of laws and we cannot have a functioning society if we do not enforce our rules. I am proud that my legislation was included as part of the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023.” Background information: The Visa Overstays Penalties Act will reclassify the act of overstaying a visas “illegal entry” – putting the offense on the same footing as aliens that illegally enter through our southern border. This offense, currently classified as a misdemeanor criminal offense, will be punishable by up to six months imprisonment for first-time offenders, and carry civil penalties between $500 and $1000, with penalties doubling for each subsequent offense. Infamous examples of individuals who have overstayed their visa include the 9/11 hijackers and Paul DePape, the man who assaulted then-Speaker Pelosi’s husband in their San Francisco home.
The
Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023
, upholds and fulfills House Republicans commitment to restore a nation that is safe by securing our southern border and taking legislative action to enforce our nations laws that have been neglected by the Biden Administration. This package includes legislation to reform the broken asylum system, expedite immigrant processing, protect unaccompanied alien children, and eliminate economic incentives for illegal immigration by requiring proof of identity and work eligibility for all who work in the United States.
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