U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) filed federal legislation that would allow nonprofits to have their tax-exempt status revoked if they are determined to repeatedly, knowingly aid illegal immigrants.
Hagerty announced Monday that he filed the Fixing Exemptions for Networks Choosing to Enable Illegal Migration (FENCE) Act, which his office stated would revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations engaging in a “pattern of providing financial assistance, services, or other forms of material support to individuals they know to be unlawfully present in the United States.”
The senator said in a statement that government should not send money to nonprofits who facilitate or encourage illegal migration before suggesting the legislation would complement executive orders signed by President Donald Trump.
“It’s absurd that our federal government has been giving tax exemptions and federal funding to NGOs that have helped facilitate record illegal immigration and carry out the far-left’s agenda, while cloaked as charities,” stated Hagerty. “President Trump’s executive order requiring a review of federal funding to NGOs will expose this malpractice that has occurred for too long. I’m pleased to introduce this legislation that will augment the President’s work to hold these NGOs accountable by revoking their tax-exempt statuses.”
Trump signed multiple executive orders targeting the dispersal of federal funding, and last week issued a memorandum demanding federal agencies review funding to determine whether it is aligned with the goals of his administration.
“It is the policy of my Administration to stop funding NGOs that undermine the national interest,” wrote the president. “I therefore direct the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to review all funding that agencies provide to NGOs.”
Hagerty noted that his legislation comes after the nonprofits receiving federal funding provided services or support to illegal immigrants during the Biden administration.
These included a group of Arizona nonprofits whose primary purpose appeared to be facilitating the transportation of illegal immigrants who were released into the United States under the Biden administration, as the group’s largest expense was to a bus company.
In Tennessee, an immigration nonprofit was approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2022 to assist with the release of paroled illegal immigrants from a New Orleans facility into Tennessee. The plan was ultimately abandoned following a successful lawsuit brought by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Why do we keep having to pass laws that already exist? This is already criminal according to the US code! Don’t stop.with the funding… Throw them in jail! “NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW”.
Any person who knowingly aids or assists any alien inadmissible under section 1182(a)(2) (insofar as an alien inadmissible under such section has been convicted of an aggravated felony) or 1182(a)(3) (other than subparagraph (E) thereof) of this title to enter the United States, or who connives or conspires with any person or persons to allow, procure, or permit any such alien to enter the United States, shall be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.