U.S. Representative Rev. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) has introduced the No Asylum for Criminals Act, a bill aimed at preventing violent criminals from other nations from seeking asylum in the United States. The measure, which has eight Republican cosponsors, seeks to strengthen existing asylum laws and protect the safety of American citizens and lawful asylum seekers.
Harris announced the legislation on Thursday, stating, “After the Biden administration abused the law to intentionally let illegal aliens in our country, it’s clear we need to strengthen asylum law. Allowing convicted felons to enter the U.S. not only risks the safety of American citizens, but it also risks the safety of other asylum seekers and adds to the backlog of claims.”
The No Asylum for Criminals Act has gained the endorsement of the Immigration Accountability Project, a group advocating for stronger immigration controls. The proposal seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to give the U.S. Attorney General authority to deny asylum to individuals who have been convicted of felonies, non-political crimes, or those deemed a threat to U.S. security.
Several Republican lawmakers have cosponsored the bill, including Reps. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Keith Self (R-Texas), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.).
Harris’s bill is part of a larger legislative push by North Carolina senators and representatives, who are involved in over a dozen immigration-related proposals currently being considered by Congress.
The bill comes amid growing concerns about border security and rising crime rates linked to illegal immigration. Republican lawmakers argue that stricter asylum laws are necessary to prevent violent criminals from exploiting the asylum system. They contend that closing loopholes in current immigration policies will enhance national security and reduce the backlog of asylum claims currently overwhelming immigration courts.
If passed, the legislation would make it clear that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are ineligible for asylum in the United States, reaffirming the principle that asylum should be reserved for those fleeing legitimate persecution, not those with criminal histories seeking to evade justice.
