U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Columbia) announced in July 2024 that he will introduce legislation to impose the death penalty on undocumented immigrants who are found guilty of assaulting, raping, or killing American citizens, aiming to increase the consequences for such crimes (Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tennessean).
The proposed legislation would be titled the "Protecting Women and Children Act" and was publicly discussed by Ogles on his Rumble podcast, where he emphasized prioritizing U.S. citizens over undocumented individuals (Daily News Journal, Oak Ridger).
Ogles justified the bill as a deterrent, stating it would send a clear message to undocumented immigrants that violent crimes targeting U.S. citizens would carry the highest penalty (Jackson Sun, Columbia Daily Herald).
Ogles echoed claims—previously made by former President Donald Trump—that some South and Central American countries are intentionally releasing prisoners and sending criminals to the U.S., a statement not independently substantiated in the articles (Knoxville News-Sentinel, Columbia Daily Herald, Tennessean).
Potential vulnerability: The policy proposal raises legal and human rights questions concerning due process, proportionality of punishment, and the targeting of a specific population based on immigration status.
Andy Ogles Proposed Bill To Allow Death Penalty For Criminal Migrants In 2024 According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, says he will introduce a bill to impose the death penalty for people in the United States unlawfully who assault, rape or kill American citizens, in an effort to 'raise the price, the consequence of the crime.' 'What it would do is it would make it clear that if you are illegal and you are attacking our women and children, that you would be eligible for the death penalty,' Ogles said." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 7/14/24]
Ogles Proposed Bill For Death Penalty For Criminal Migrants In 2024 According to Columbia Daily Herald, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, says he will introduce a bill to impose the death penalty for people in the United States unlawfully who assault, rape or kill American citizens, in an effort to 'raise the price, the consequence of the crime.'" [Columbia Daily Herald, 7/14/24]
July 2024: Andy Ogles Proposed Bill To Allow Death Penalty For Certain Crimes By Undocumented Immigrants According to Tennessean, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, says he will introduce a bill to impose the death penalty for people in the United States unlawfully who assault, rape or kill American citizens, in an effort to 'raise the price, the consequence of the crime.'" [Tennessean, 7/14/24]
2024: Ogles Proposed Death Penalty Bill For Unlawful Migrants Who Assault, Rape, Or Kill U.S. Citizens According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles also touted his new bill to allow the death penalty for unlawful migrants who assault, rape, or kill U.S. citizens - which earned him a big round of applause from the room." [Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), 7/15/24]
July 2024: Ogles Proposed Bill To Allow Death Penalty For Criminal Migrants According to The Jackson Sun, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, says he will introduce a bill to impose the death penalty for people in the United States unlawfully who assault, rape or kill American citizens, in an effort to 'raise the price, the consequence of the crime.'" [Jackson Sun, 7/15/24]
July 2024: Andy Ogles Proposed Death Penalty For Criminal Migrants According to the Leaf-Chronicle, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, says he will introduce a bill to impose the death penalty for people in the United States unlawfully who assault, rape or kill American citizens, in an effort to 'raise the price, the consequence of the crime.'","citation":"Leaf-Chronicle","date":"7/15/24","hyperlink":"https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:6CGM-WG31-JB1V-G0H3-00000-00&context=1519360","bullet_order":1},{ [Leaf-Chronicle, 7/15/24]
July 2024: Ogles Proposed Death Penalty For Criminal Migrants According to The Daily News Journal, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, says he will introduce a bill to impose the death penalty for people in the United States unlawfully who assault, rape or kill American citizens, in an effort to 'raise the price, the consequence of the crime.' 'What it would do is it would make it clear that if you are illegal and you are attacking our women and children, that you would be eligible for the death penalty,' Ogles said." [Daily News Journal, 7/16/24]
July 2024: Ogles Announced 'Protecting Women and Children Act' Targeting Criminal Migrants According to The Daily News Journal, "Ogles announced the legislation, which he plans to call the 'Protecting Women and Children Act' on his Rumble podcast 'Restoring the Republic' on Thursday morning. 'We're going to send a message that if we have to choose between a U.S. citizen and an illegal, we're going to choose the citizen,' Ogles said." [Daily News Journal, 7/16/24]
July 2024: Andy Ogles Announced Bill To Impose Death Penalty For Certain Crimes By Unlawful Immigrants According to Oak Ridger, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, says he will introduce a bill to impose the death penalty for people in the United States unlawfully who assault, rape or kill American citizens, in an effort to 'raise the price, the consequence of the crime.' 'What it would do is it would make it clear that if you are illegal and you are attacking our women and children, that you would be eligible for the death penalty,' Ogles said." [Oak Ridger, 7/16/24]
July 2024: Andy Ogles Announced Legislation Called "Protecting Women and Children Act" On Podcast According to Oak Ridger, "Ogles announced the legislation, which he plans to call the 'Protecting Women and Children Act' on his Rumble podcast 'Restoring the Republic' on Thursday morning. 'We're going to send a message that if we have to choose between a U.S. citizen and an illegal, we're going to choose the citizen,' Ogles said." [Oak Ridger, 7/16/24]
July 2024: Andy Ogles Said The Bill Would Prioritize U.S. Citizens Over Undocumented Immigrants According to Tennessean, "We're going to send a message that if we have to choose between a U.S. citizen and an illegal, we're going to choose the citizen," Ogles said. [Tennessean, 7/14/24]
Andy Ogles Echoed Claims About Criminal Release From South and Central America In July 2024 According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "Ogles alleged that South and Central American countries are 'systematically' releasing criminals from prisons and jails and 'sending them into our country,' echoing a talking point of former President Donald Trump, who has made similar allegations." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 7/14/24]
Ogles Echoed Trump Allegation That Latam Countries Sent Criminals To U.S. In 2024 According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles alleged that South and Central American countries are 'systematically' releasing criminals from prisons and jails and 'sending them into our country,' echoing a talking point of former President Donald Trump, who has made similar allegations." [Columbia Daily Herald, 7/14/24]
July 2024: Andy Ogles Echoed Trump Allegations On Foreign Prisons And Migration According to Tennessean, "Ogles alleged that South and Central American countries are 'systematically' releasing criminals from prisons and jails and 'sending them into our country,' echoing a talking point of former President Donald Trump, who has made similar allegations." [Tennessean, 7/14/24]