Rep. Crenshaw Introduces RIOT Act to Deport Non-Citizens Convicted in Violent Unrest

Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced H.R. 3859, the No Safe Harbor for Riot Offenders Act, also known as the RIOT Act, aimed at mandating the deportation of non-citizens who engage in violent acts during riots or declared emergencies.

The bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make any non-citizen, including illegal immigrants, DACA recipients, and lawful permanent residents, deportable and permanently inadmissible if convicted of assaulting law enforcement, military personnel, or damaging public property during civil unrest. It also mandates detention throughout removal proceedings.

“America is a nation of laws, not lawlessness,” said Rep. Crenshaw. “If you’re in this country as a guest and you assault a police officer or destroy public property during a riot, you’ve made your choice. The RIOT Act ensures there are real consequences: mandatory detention, deportation, and permanent removal.”

Rep. Crenshaw said the legislation was prompted by recent violence in cities like Los Angeles, where law enforcement was attacked and government property vandalized, sometimes by individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. The bill would apply during any federal, state, or local emergency and is designed to close what Crenshaw calls "loopholes" that currently allow violent offenders to remain in the country.

“We protect peaceful protest with the Constitution,” Crenshaw added. “But if you use that moment to attack a cop or burn a patrol car, and you’re not a U.S. citizen, then your time here is over.”

The bill has drawn support from 18 original Republican cosponsors, including Texas Reps. Randy Weber, Pete Sessions, Ronny Jackson, and Brendan Gill.  It reflects a broader effort by GOP lawmakers to tie immigration enforcement to public safety concerns amid rising national debates over crime and civil unrest.

Critics of similar proposals in the past have raised concerns about due process and the potential chilling effect on lawful dissent, especially among immigrant communities. But Crenshaw insists the bill targets only those convicted of violence or vandalism, not peaceful demonstrators.

The legislation is expected to be referred to the House Judiciary Committee.