Rep. Joyce Statement on Concord Township Tragedy

Press Release

oday, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) made the following comments in response to the tragic killing & shooting in Concord Township by Juan E. Razo, an illegal immigrant living in the United States:

"My heart and prayers goes out to the families of this tragedy," Rep. Dave Joyce said. "This is a tragedy that could have, and should have, been prevented. As a former prosecutor, I will do everything I can to get to the bottom of this situation and make sure justice is served. We need to enforce our immigration laws that are on the books, not blatantly ignore them. Now, as a result of failed immigration policies by the Obama Administration, an innocent life has been taken. That's unacceptable."

Rep. Joyce is opposed to illegal immigration and providing amnesty to those who have entered the United States illegally. Since he was sworn into office in 2013, he has co-sponsored and supported multiple bills that oppose President Obama's Executive Amnesty. He recently cosponsored to H.R. 3009, Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act, which passed the House on 7/23/15 by a vote of 241-179.

H.R. 3009 bars state and local governments from receiving federal funds under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program if such entities have in effect laws, policies, or procedures that inhibit the enforcement of immigration laws or that prohibit state or local law enforcement officials from gathering information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of any individual. The bill also requires the Attorney General to withhold Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding that a state or local government otherwise would have been awarded for the following fiscal year if such entity impedes immigration enforcement in a manner prohibited by the bill.

Rep. Joyce was also a cosponsor of H.R. 38 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2015, which would undercut the President's Executive Actions that currently are blocked by the courts, so as to directly prohibit an expansion of the DACA program.

Rep. Joyce also cosponsored H.R. 1148 the Davis-Oliver Act. This legislation precludes a city from ignoring ICE detainers and releasing criminal aliens back on the street. This also Immunizes state and local law enforcement officers from local or state retribution, or punishment, should they opt to honor detainers from ICE.

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