Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall has reintroduced the Justice for Angel Families Act, aimed at amending the Crime Victims Fund to provide financial assistance to families of victims killed by illegal aliens. This legislation seeks to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs for these families.

The bill also proposes to permanently establish the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office within the Department of Homeland Security. Originally set up in 2017 under President Trump, the office offers services such as grief counseling and case follow-ups for affected families. The bill aims to ensure that this office remains operational regardless of future administrative changes.

Senator Marshall stated, “President Trump is righting the catastrophic wrongs of the Biden-Harris Administration by restoring law and order.” He emphasized the need for congressional support in passing this act to provide justice and resources to these families.

Representative Troy Nehls introduced a companion version in the House, with several co-sponsors including Representatives Paul Gosar, Don Bacon, Randy Weber, Lance Gooden, Barry Moore, Tom Tiffany, and Brian Babin. Congressman Nehls remarked on the importance of codifying VOICE: “By codifying the VOICE Office... no future president can close the office again.”

Co-sponsoring Senators Ted Budd, Kevin Cramer, and Bill Cassidy expressed their support for Angel Families facing tragic losses due to what they describe as open-border policies under President Biden’s administration.

The proposed legislation has received backing from organizations like Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, NumbersUSA, and National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE). Don Rosenberg from Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime highlighted that while financial compensation cannot replace lost loved ones, it could alleviate some financial burdens. Michael Hough from NumbersUSA noted that previous border policies necessitated such legislative measures.

RJ Hauman from NICE emphasized that under Republican leadership in Congress, Angel Families are being prioritized. He called on Congress to pass this act following necessary resource allocation via reconciliation.

The full text of the legislation is available online.