Senator John Cornyn (R) has introduced a bill that codifies President Donald Trump’s (R) executive order calling for the death penalty for illegal immigrant murderers.
The bill, titled the Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act, would amend the U.S. Code to include illegal immigration status as a factor that can justify a death sentence in capital cases.
President Trump’s executive order, which was issued on January 20th, directs federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of capital crimes, including those involving the murder of law enforcement officers.
Senator Cornyn’s bill seeks to prevent a future administration from overturning the policy.
“Violent predators who enter our country illegally and brutally murder American citizens should be subject to the death penalty as a consequence of their heinous actions,” Senator Cornyn said in a statement. “By enshrining President Trump’s Executive Order into law, this legislation would protect the American people, make our country safe again, and ensure no future President can singlehandedly undo this consequence for taking innocent lives.”
According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), over 10,000 illegal immigrants with prior criminal convictions were arrested in fiscal year 2024. Among those, 29 had homicide or manslaughter charges. In fiscal year 2025, nine such individuals have been detained so far on similar charges.
Senator Cornyn’s bill has drawn support from several Republican senators, including South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R), Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (R), and Indiana Senator Jim Banks (R) among others.
Senator Cornyn faces a primary challenger in Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), and the race is gearing up to be one of the most closely watched races in this upcoming election season.
Most recently, Attorney General Paxton was accused of violating federal campaign finance law after his U.S. Senate campaign video allegedly reused b-roll footage that was paid for by his state-level campaign.
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