EDITOR’s NOTE: This story has been updated. A story in Monday’s Times Observer incorrectly identified Sen. Dan Laughlin’s co-sponsor for legislation that would require notification of federal immigration and customs officials when undocumented immigrants break the law. Sen. Wayne Langerholc is the co-sponsor of Laughlin’s proposal.

Two Republican state senators want the commonwealth to notify federal immigration and customs officials when undocumented immigrants break the law.

Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, and Sen. Wayne Langerholc are circulating a co-sponsorship memorandum for legislation they are drafting that would require the attorney for the commonwealth to notify federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials. Republicans in New York state have introduced similar legislation after the Democrat-controlled New York legislature took action during President Donald Trump’s term to limit police cooperation with ICE officials.

Langerholc and Laughlin cited the same attacks in New York that prompted New York Republicans’ proposals as well as the murder of Laken Riley of Augusta University in Georgia.

“Two NYPD officers were assaulted by illegal migrants earlier this year,” Langerholc and Laughlin wrote in their memorandum. “Several of these offenders had been previously arrested by law enforcement and were back on the streets. Accordingly, this lack of notification prompted New York City Mayor Adams to call for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be informed of those illegal migrants who have been charged with violations of state law. Sadly and surprisingly this is not occurring. Last week, Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old student at Augusta University in Georgia was brutally murdered by an illegal migrant with multiple previous arrests by various law enforcement across the country. This is unconscionable and must be remedied.”

There is no draft legislation to review in Pennsylvania yet. The New York legislation would require copies of fingerprints and police reports to be forwarded to the ICE while all criminal courts – including county, city and town and village courts – notify ICE if an undocumented immigrant is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime. Republicans also propose an end to the state’s ban on courthouse arrests and want to grant courts the power to issue judicial orders to protect certain civil arrests.

At the same time, Mastriano and Sen. Chris Gebhard, R-Lebanon, are circulating a co-sponsorship memorandum to tax undocumented immigrants who work in Pennsylvania and send money back to their families. The bill, once it is introduced, is unlikely to garner support in the Democrat-controlled state House of Representatives, where it has been introduced by Rep. Mike Cabell, R-Dallas.

The bill would impose a 10% fee on international remittances conducted by illegal immigrants who send money overseas through a money transfer licensee or agent. Revenue generated through the new fee would be used to supplement the state Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which provides rebates of up to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older.

“Illegal immigrants hurt Pennsylvania’s economy by sending money out of the United States and back to their country of origin,” Mastriano said. “This fee would ensure some of that money is used to provide property tax relief rather than going to support the economy of a foreign nation.”

International remittances are money sent electronically out of state. The senators said their proposal is based on a 2014 Oklahoma bill that includes a 1% remittance fee. The most recent tax report shows the fee generated more than $15 million for Oklahoma.

“While we provide property tax relief, we can also discourage money transfers out of Pennsylvania that could go to support cartels that send dangerous drugs to our communities and perpetuate human trafficking – both disgusting ways to take advantage of other humans,” Gebhard said.