'JAIL for Alien Voters Act' would close loophole, crack down on illegal-immigrant voting, says Gaetz

FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is introducing a bill Tuesday that he says would plug a loophole in current federal law by making it a felony for illegal immigrants to vote in U.S. elections, aligning penalties with those for U.S. citizens unlawfully voting.

Currently, the prohibited acts under federal law for U.S. elections do not state that voting as an illegal immigrant is a prohibited act. Gaetz's legislation would add voting as a noncitizen as a prohibited act and increase the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony with up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

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"President Donald Trump is right: illegal aliens who vote in our elections should be in jail," Gaetz told Fox News Digital in a statement. "It is unacceptable that illegal aliens get lighter sentences for defrauding our elections than U.S. citizens." 

"My legislation, the JAIL for Alien Voters Act, will create parity in punishment for those who commit voter fraud, regardless of immigration status. It's common sense that U.S. citizens should be the only ones voting in U.S. elections," he said.

Reps. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Mike Collins, R-Ga., Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., and Barry Moore, R-Ala., are cosponsors.

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