Senate GOP moves to require ICE notification when an illegal alien tries to buy a gun

Senate Republicans on Friday unveiled a plan to require that the Department of Homeland Security receive notification of any illegal alien attempt to purchase a firearm.

"Those who come into America illegally should be detained and deported," Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom Cotton said in a press release. "They certainly shouldn’t be able to purchase a firearm. Our bill is necessary to ensure the proper authorities are notified when an illegal immigrant attempts to buy a gun."

Under the plan, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would receive notification when an illegal alien fails a background check while attempting to purchase a firearm. It is already illegal for an illegal alien to purchase a firearm and 2022 witnessed almost 4,400 failed background checks due to the would-be purchaser's unlawful presence in the country, according to the Washington Times.

Since November of 1998, moreover, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has rejected almost 50,000 illegal immigrants attempting to purchase a firearm.

"The National Instant Criminal Background Check system is an important tool to ensure firearms stay out of the wrong hands, which is why I co-introduced the Fix NICS Act," North Carolina GOP Sen. Thom Tillis said. "It is already against the law for an illegal immigrant to purchase a firearm, and this legislation would notify the appropriate authorities when an illegal immigrant tries to break the law."

The bill's other co-sponsors were GOP Sens. Joni Ernst, Iowa; Cynthia Lummis, Wyo.; and John Boozman, Ark.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.