Blumenthal, Cornyn, Murphy Introduce "Casey's Law" to Hold Countries Accountable for Refusing to Repatriate Dangerous Foreign Nationals

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced legislation that would establish clear criteria to identify and hold accountable countries that systematically refuse or delay the repatriation of their citizens who have been convicted of a violent crime, or who pose a threat to public safety. The bill is known as “Casey’s Law” in memory of Norwich resident Casey Chadwick who was murdered last year by Haitian national Jean Jacques. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had failed to deport Jacques after his release from a prison on a previous attempted murder charge.

Blumenthal said: “Casey Chadwick might well be alive today if her killer had been returned to Haiti rather than allowed to stay here illegally. There should be a crackdown on countries that refuse to take back their own citizens after they commit serious crimes in the United States, continuing to endanger our communities and families. This commonsense bill will enable more effective action to return and repatriate dangerous individuals who have no right to be here, and hold countries accountable if they refuse to accept them.”

Cornyn said: “Illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes should not be left on our streets, and if other countries won’t cooperate in taking them back there should be consequences. I thank Senator Blumenthal for working with me to address this ongoing problem and keep our country safe from dangerous individuals who shouldn’t be here.” 

Murphy said: “The family of Casey Chadwick and the community of Norwich know all too well the pain and suffering that comes when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fails to deport criminals. Our bill will help make sure that the Department of Homeland Security can repatriate dangerous individuals. Casey Chadwick’s brutal murder demands accountability, and this bill is an important step forward.

The Remedies for Refusal of Repatriation Act ensures that when countries put Americans at risk by refusing to accept deported criminals, those countries are held accountable. The bill would require that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establish procedures to determine whether a foreign country systematically and unreasonably refuses or delays the repatriation of nationals who are in the United States, and have been convicted of a felony or crime of violence, or are a threat to national security or public safety. Once it has been established that a country meets this criteria, DHS and the State Department would then notify their government that the United States may deny visas to their citizens.

DHS and State would also publish this information on their website, so that the public is fully informed about which countries systematically refuse and delay repatriation of their citizens. The legislation also requires an annual report to Congress identifying those countries that systematically refuse or delay repatriation of its citizens and describing the actions taken by those agencies in response.

Blumenthal and Murphy have worked closely with U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) on the issue of repatriation following Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) failure to deport Jean Jacques, a Haitian national currently in prison for the alleged murder of 25-year-old Norwich woman Casey Chadwick. Last month, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS IG) issued report on the agency’s inquiry into ICE’s failure to deport Jacques. The inquiry was launched following a request by Blumenthal, Murphy, and Courtney.

Courtney said: “The release of the Inspector General’s report last month provided the necessary focus on changes by Congress and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fix the appalling weakness in our nation’s deportation system which allowed this tragic incident to occur. Wendy Hartling deserves the highest praise for her persistent efforts to make sure a situation similar to the one which caused her daughter Casey Chadwick’s untimely death is less likely to occur again.”

The report released last month by the DHS IG reviewed the facts of the case and examined the extent to which ICE adhered to its policies in the release and supervision of Jacques. A second report, which will provide a broader systemic analysis of ICE enforcement and removal policies raised by this case, will be completed at a later date.

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