A group of eight illegal migrants who were found squatting in a Bronx apartment are now facing guns and weapons charges. All had been previously caught at the southern border and released, authorities said. (WNYW)
"The dramatic increase in the number of illegal immigrants squatting in American homes is yet another example of how the disastrous situation at our southern border is impacting communities across the country," Meuser said in a statement announcing the bill. "This legislation will serve as a deterrent to illegal aliens contemplating violating the homes and properties of American citizens."
Migrants will "think twice" before attempting to trespass or illegally take over someone's property, he added.
Under the terms of the bill, any illegal immigrant convicted or admits to squatting inside a home is eligible for deportation and would be permanently barred from entering the U.S.
SQUATTER'S PARADISE? AMERICA'S BIGGEST CITY 'PLAYING WITH FIRE' OVER THIS NEW RULE, ATTORNEY SAYS
Venezuelan TikToker Leonel Moreno urged illegal immigrants to take over abandoned homes and invoke squatters' rights. (@Leitooficial_26/Instagram)
Legal loopholes have frustrated property owners as more cases of squatters have received media attention in recent weeks.
In New York City, eight migrants were recently busted at a Bronx home last month on gun and drug charges after police received a call about a gun at the home. One of the migrants, 24-year-old Hector Desousa-Villata, had previous charges for attempted murder after allegedly shooting a fellow migrant in the leg in August during an argument over a woman.
All eight migrants initially entered the U.S. illegally through the southern border.
New York state Sen. John Liu introduced a bill this week that would define the term "squatter" and would make it clear that squatters do not get any rights or protections after 30 days.
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"It’s gotten a huge amount of visibility and stirred quite a bit of outrage because of some of these egregious and blatant acts of squatting, which is why it’s necessary to make it crystal clear in the law that a squatter is not a tenant and does have the rights that are afforded to tenants in the state of New York," Liu told Fox News Digital.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
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