Capital punishment is an essential tool for deterring and punishing heinous crimes committed against American citizens. The Order recognizes that politicians and judges who oppose capital punishment have defied the laws of the country, including President Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 Federal death row inmates.
The policy of the United States will be to ensure that the laws authorizing capital punishment are respected and faithfully implemented, and to counteract those who subvert the law. The Attorney General will pursue the death penalty for all crimes of a severity demanding its use, particularly in cases involving murder of a law-enforcement officer or alien illegally present in the country.