U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) spoke out about his support of a bill that would bar aliens associated with a criminal gang and convicted of a crime from entering the United States.
Singh’s Law was introduced earlier this year by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Rounds.
“Foreign criminals and known gang members who pose a threat to South Dakota families should not be allowed into the United States,” Rounds said. “This legislation closes loopholes and gives law enforcement officials additional tools and authority to keep dangerous aliens out of our country.”
This legislation would also disqualify aliens with gang associations from receiving asylum, temporary protected status, special immigrant juvenile visas, and other forms of relief from removal.
Further, Singh’s Law would grant the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to designate criminal gangs under the Immigration and Nationality Act. In addition, it would create a $200 million federal grant to law-enforcement agencies to combat criminal gangs.
The bill is named after Corporal Ronil Singh, a police officer in Newman, Calif. who was killed on Dec. 26, 2018. An illegal immigrant with known gang affiliations and two prior DUI arrests was charged with murdering Singh. Also, several illegal immigrants were charged with helping the alleged killer try to flee the country.
Singh’s Law also provides U.S. law-enforcement agencies with additional tools to combat criminal gangs operating in the United States.