(ProsperNews.net) – More than 150 House Democrats voted against a bill that would deport illegal immigrants convicted of sexual offenses or conspiracy to commit such crimes. The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday with bipartisan support, securing 266 votes in favor and 158 against.
All present Republicans supported the bill, along with 51 Democrats, including Reps. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (D-Wash.), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), and Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.). Notably, two Democrats who voted for the bill, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), are running for higher office, with Slotkin campaigning for Senate and Spanberger for governor.
The legislation aims to deport illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes or those who admit to domestic violence or sex-related charges. It also makes such individuals inadmissible to the United States. The bill is part of a broader effort by House Republicans to address issues related to the ongoing border crisis, which has affected various states and cities nationwide.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who sponsored the bill, told Fox News Digital that she fully expected opposition from Democrats. “If you vote against it, you’re sexist against women,” Mace said, emphasizing that the bill targets illegal immigrants committing serious crimes against women and children. “They’ve gotta go. They shouldn’t be allowed into our country.”
However, many Democrats criticized the bill as xenophobic. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, condemned the measure during the debate, accusing Republicans of fearmongering. “Here we are again, debating another partisan bill that fear mongers about immigrants, instead of working together to fix the immigration system,” Jayapal said. She argued that the GOP was scapegoating immigrants and weaponizing domestic violence for political purposes.
Despite the criticism, some GOP-led immigration bills have received modest support from Democrats. A previous House bill aimed at detaining and deporting migrants convicted of assaulting law enforcement passed with help from 54 Democrats, though 148 lawmakers voted against it. Another GOP-backed bill, the Laken Riley Act—named after an Augusta University nursing student allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant—also garnered support from 37 House Democrats.
Republicans view these legislative efforts as a way to address the consequences of the border crisis and highlight the need for stricter immigration enforcement, while Democrats continue to push for a more comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system.
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