(CNSNews) -- In response to Democrat efforts to release illegal aliens from custody during the COVID-19 pandemic, House Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced legislation this week that would require all illegals in immigration custody to be deported during a national emergency that involves a communicable disease.
The legislation is called the PANDEMIC Act, which stands for "Protect American Nationals During Emergencies by Mitigating the Immigration Crisis Act.”
“Democrats are taking advantage of a national pandemic by working to advance their radical agenda at the expense of Americans’ safety and well-being," said Rep. Gaetz in a press release.
"It is unconscionable that at a time when we should be working together as Americans, Democrats are working to socially engineer our country and advance their legislative priorities." he said.
"The PANDEMIC Act puts Americans first by requiring that all illegal aliens be deported during a pandemic, ensuring our resources are used to benefit and protect American citizens,” said the Florida congressman.
The bill states, "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any unlawfully present alien who is detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a national emergency related to a communicable disease (regardless of whether the alien was taken into custody before or during the national emergency related to a communicable disease) shall be removed from the United States in a manner which eliminates the need for additional detention at any processing center of the Department of Homeland Security and in a manner which assures expeditious removal."
The proposal would not apply to an "alien against whom charges for a crime of violence are pending."
Read the legislation here.