Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after introducing H.R. 4092, the Protect Railroads Against Illegal Looters (RAIL) Act, legislation safeguarding interstate and foreign freight shipments by clarifying that aliens who are convicted of offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 659, are inadmissible for entry into the United States and are deportable.

“Transnational criminal theft organizations, particularly those tied to Sinaloa in Mexico, pose serious and growing threats to public safety, national security and economic stability in the southwestern United States.

These organizations are accused of increased involvement in sophisticated cargo theft and are said to recruit aliens to burglarize high-value consumer goods from freight trains.  These alleged thefts delay shipments and contribute to shortages and price increases. Once stolen, the goods can be resold, funding additional criminal ventures.

Disruptions especially affect border states like Arizona, which serve as major transit corridors for goods between the U.S. and Mexico. The Protect RAIL Act discourages aliens from stealing goods transported as interstate or foreign shipment of freight, including from railroad cars, motor trucks, aircraft, vessels, or storage facilities while protecting operators from harm.

The great Mohave Desert may still be the Wild West, but aliens, including illegal ones, convicted of stealing goods moving as an interstate shipment should be deemed inadmissible for entry and should be removed from the United States,” stated Congressman Gosar.

 Original Cosponsors: Biggs (AZ), Biggs (SC), Boebert, Brecheen, Burchett, Ciscomani, Crane, Donalds, DesJarlais, Fallon, Fine, Fry, Gill, Guest, Hamadeh, Harrigan, Norman, Ogles, Rulli, Schweikert, Sessions, Van Drew, Weber, Williams (TX)

Outside Group Supporters: Federation for American Immigration Reform, Immigration Accountability Project, NumbersUSA