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119-hr-3362119th CongressWALLET

Justice for Angel Families Act

Sponsored By: Representative Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]

Introduced

Summary

Expands federal victim compensation to "angel families" who lose a loved one to certain noncitizen killers. It would also create a Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office at DHS to help and track crimes involving those noncitizens.

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  • Angel families would become eligible for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) compensation for mental health care, wages lost from emotional distress, and funeral expenses. "Angel family" is defined as immediate family of a homicide victim when the killer is unlawfully present under INA 212(a)(6)(A)(i) or is a member of an international criminal organization involved in drug trafficking.
  • Victims and survivors of criminal violence would have clarified VOCA coverage for medical care (including mental health), lost wages tied to physical injury, and funeral costs.
  • The new DHS office would operate a hotline, refer victims to social services, provide custody-status and releasable criminal or immigration history, and collect metrics. It must conduct a case study and deliver an annual report within 1 year and annually thereafter on demographics, locations, crime types, and repeat offenses.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Compensation for Angel Families After Homicide

If enacted, state victim compensation programs would have to cover “angel families.” You must be an immediate family member of a homicide victim killed by an unlawfully present alien or a member of an international drug trafficking group. You could get medical and mental health care, funeral costs, and lost wages tied to emotional distress. This would apply only to programs run by your state.

Homeland Security hotline for victims

If enacted, Homeland Security would set up a victim support office and hotline for victims of crimes by certain unlawfully present immigrants and their families. You could get information on immigration enforcement and removal, referrals to services, help with custody status alerts, and allowed history about the offender. The office would study cases and send Congress a report within one year and every year after.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2025

  • Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 6/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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