Sen. Cotton Introduces Bills Increasing Penalties, Deportation for Violent LA Rioters

Senator Tom Cotton has introduced two bills aimed at increasing penalties for violent rioters, especially targeting non-citizens involved in protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles. The No Visas for Violent Criminals Act mandates immediate visa revocation and deportation within 60 days for non-citizens convicted of crimes related to protests, including obstructing traffic or vandalizing federal property. The Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness Act raises the maximum prison sentence for riot participation from five to ten years and establishes mandatory minimum sentences for assaulting federal officers and riot-related violence. Concurrently, House Republicans led by Rep. Dan Crenshaw proposed legislation to deport non-citizens involved in violent anti-law enforcement riots during declared emergencies, permanently barring their return. These legislative efforts come amid escalating protests in Los Angeles, where demonstrators have clashed with law enforcement, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard and Marines. Cotton has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom's handling of the unrest, asserting that the protests highlight the Democratic Party's extreme stance on immigration versus the Republicans' focus on law and order.