Sen. Tom Cotton on Tuesday unveiled two bills aimed at cracking down on violent rioters and noncitizens involved in protests, citing recent unrest in Los Angeles tied to immigration enforcement.
The Arkansas Republican said one bill would establish a mandatory one-year federal sentence for anyone convicted of violence during a riot. It would also increase the maximum sentence for rioting from five years to 10 years. In addition, assaulting a federal officer during such events would carry a minimum one-year sentence.
The second bill targets noncitizens, mandating deportation within 60 days for those convicted of obstructing roads, misbehaving during protests, or vandalizing federal property. It also calls for revocation of visas in such cases.
“Rioters of any immigration status who assault ICE officers and engage in acts of violence should face stiff consequences,” Cotton said. “My bills make clear that Americans will not tolerate lawless rioting in support of illegal immigration.”
His proposals come amid ongoing protests over President Trump’s immigration policies and law enforcement responses in California.
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