Pennsylvania Lawmaker Introduces Bill Requiring Mandatory Death Penalty for ‘Illegal Aliens’ Convicted of Murder

HARRISBURG, PA. – A lawmaker in Pennsylvania wants to pass a bill that would make the death sentence mandatory for “illegal aliens convicted of murder.”

State Representative Eric Davanzo (R-Westmoreland) says he is going to file the bill and gives examples of people who came to the U.S. illegally being found guilty of serious crimes all over the country.

Davanzo specifically brought up the case of Laken Riley, a student at the University of Georgia who was killed earlier this year by a Venezuelan man who had come to the U.S. illegally. He also talked about the search for Danelo Cavalcante in Pennsylvania after he got out of Chester County Prison after being found guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend.

A memo from Davanzo to House members said, “At a time when the Federal government has made it clear that it doesn’t want to stop this ever-increasing surge in illegal immigration and some district attorneys in this Commonwealth refuse to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detainers, drastic measures are needed to stop violent crime and illegal migration, promote justice for victims and their families, and make sure that punishments are fair for everyone.” “I think that anyone who comes into our country illegally and kills someone should be punished the harshest way our laws allow.” This bill shows that, unlike the Federal Government, the House of Representatives is ready to protect its people and make sure victims get justice.

In Pennsylvania, the death penalty can only be used against someone who is found guilty of first-degree murder and other reasons make the case more serious.

Last year, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said that the death sentence would not be used during his term in office and called for an end to the practice.

“Putting people to death shouldn’t be the Commonwealth’s job.” That’s it,” Shapiro said in 2023.

When he was running for attorney general in 2024, Dave Sunday said that he would seek the death sentence.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections says that three people have been put to death by fatal injection since 1976. The most recent was in 1999. Pennsylvania has 95 people on death row right now; the most recent person to be put there was added in May 2023.

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