FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
June 10, 2025

Cotton Introduces Bills to Increase Penalties on Violent Rioters 

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the No Visas for Violent Criminals Act and the Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness and Threats Act. Together, the pair of bills would stiffen punishment for violent rioters by establishing and increasing mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenders and by requiring deportation within 60 days of any non-citizen convicted of a criminal offense during a protest.

“Rioters of any immigration status who assault ICE officers and engage in acts of violence should face stiff consequences. My bills make clear that Americans will not tolerate lawless rioting in support of illegal immigration,” said Senator Cotton.

Text of the No Visas for Violent Criminals Act may be found here.

Text of the Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness Act may be found here.

The No Visas for Violent Criminals Act would immediately terminate any visa and require deportation within 60 days of any non-citizen convicted of:

  • Any offense involving the obstruction of highways, roads, bridges, or tunnels.
  • Any offense related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest.
  • Any offense involving the defacement or destruction of federal property.

The Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness Act would:

  • Increase the maximum punishment for participating in a riot from five to ten years.
  • Establish a mandatory minimum of one year for an act of violence as part of a riot.
  • Establish a mandatory minimum of one year and eliminate the maximum penalty for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer or uniformed service member.

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