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Congressman introduces bill punishing countries that don't take back citizens
By Jeff Barnd, Sinclair Broadcast Group
May 20th, 2016
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WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) — There are roughly 12 million illegal immigrants in America. Thousands have committed crimes on U.S. soil - some more than once according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

So why are so many of them remaining in the U.S?

Assaults, robberies and sex offenses are just some of the crimes committed in America by undocumented immigrants, who were supposed to be deported under federal law. But instead, they were freed right here in the U.S.

"They should be deported," says Representative Brian Babin (R- Texas). "But they're not being deported for several reasons; number one, their home countries are not taking them back."

Congressman Babin introduced a bill that would punish nations refusing to take back their citizens. H.R. 5224 aims to withhold foreign aid and travel visas to those nations not cooperating. It also allows victim's families of these crimes to sue the federal government.

This follows an April hearing on Capitol Hill, when it was revealed several countries (some receiving foreign aid from the U.S.) refuse to accept criminal undocumented immigrants.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says there are currently 23 so-called "uncooperative countries". As a result of delays or refusal to take back their people, ICE has no choice but to follow the law, and release thousands of aliens, including those with criminal convictions.

Some uncooperative countries include Afghanistan, Algeria, China, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.

ICE says it can't release a list of all uncooperative nations publically, because it may stop ongoing talks to restore the alien repatriation processes. Congressman Babin says he looks forward to seeing complete list.

"They will pay a price for not cooperating with the United States."