Iowa Lawmaker Supports Executing Some Felons in US Illegally

Iowa Lawmaker Supports Executing Some Felons in US Illegally

• By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DES MOINES, Iowa — Dec 1, 2015, 6:49 PM ET

An Iowa state senator and congressional candidate was criticized by Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday after he said he supports executing immigrant felons who seek to re-enter the U.S. illegally after being deported.

The views of Republican Mark Chelgren were first reported by the Journal Express newspaper in Knoxville, Iowa. Chelgren is running for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.

Reached by phone, Chelgren told The Associated Press that his comments came during a broader conversation about terrorism and border control. Chelgren stressed he was talking specifically about immigrants with felony convictions trying to re-enter the U.S. illegally with further criminal intent.

"I think capital punishment should be considered for people who are felons and re-enter this country illegally, yes," Chelgren said. "We have to make sure we are not incentivizing people whose only intent is to victimize."

Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire said the comments were "vile, hateful and downright deplorable."

Iowa Republican Party spokesman Charlie Szold said the comments "do not represent the values and the beliefs of Iowa Republicans."

Chelgren said Democrats did not closely read his statements, which he said were directed only at a "subset" of immigrants.

Asked about the Republican criticism, he said, "Those are my beliefs and my beliefs alone and I stand by them."

Iowa's 2nd Congressional District is currently represented by Democrat Rep. Dave Loebsack.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireS...gally-35520085

Well, what else does one do with them, I ask? Some of these people have been deported a dozen times, some more than that. Would you let a home invader keep entering your home time after time after time without using your weapon to stop them? I think not.

Again, if we put state and local law enforcement on this problem, this problem will be over by the next Christmas.

DEC 1 2015, 9:00 PM ET


Iowa State Sen. Mark Chelgren Suggests Death Penalty for Some Immigrant Felons

by ERIK ORTIZ

An Iowa state senator running for U.S. Congress is getting blasted by both his Republican Party and Democrats after saying that immigrant felons who try to re-enter America illegally should be executed.

State Sen. Mark Chelgren's controversial comments were published Monday by the Journal Express of Knoxville and Marion County, which presented his views on border security and immigration. The newspaper said the two-term state legislator believes in a fence to help protect the nation's borders, and that if a person who committed a felony is deported and then tries to return to the U.S., he or she should be subject to capital punishment.

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Iowa State Sen. Mark Chelgren. Charlie Neibergall / AP file

"There is no reason to have felons here who threaten our way of life," Chelgren told the Journal Express, which added that he respects immigrants who are legally in the country.

Officials with the Republican Party of Iowa, however, sought to distance themselves from Chelgren, saying in a statement that "these remarks do not represent the values and beliefs of Iowa Republicans. Period," reported the Des Moines Register.

Chelgren, who represents a heavily Democratic district in southeastern Iowa, did not immediately return NBC News' request for comment.

The Iowa Democratic Party put out a statement Tuesday attacking Chelgren's suggestion as "vile, hateful and downright deplorable."

"Mark Chelgren's call for executing undocumented immigrants represents a dangerous new low for the Republican Party," said Andy McGuire, chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Undocumented immigrants march on Capitol Hill 1:50


Chelgren later clarified to The Associated Press that he was referring specifically to immigrants with felony convictions who are trying to re-enter the U.S. illegally with further criminal intent.

"I think capital punishment should be considered for people who are felons and re-enter this country illegally, yes," Chelgren said. "We have to make sure we are not incentivizing people whose only intent is to victimize."

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/poli...uld-be-n472491

We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to protect innocent American lives from rape and pillage invaders and terrorists.

W