On Thursday, a majority of House Democrats once again voted against legislation that seeks to ensure immigrants who commit sex crimes or domestic violence can be deported from the United States.
The bill, called the “Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act,” passed with the support of 213 Republicans and 61 Democrats. Another 145 Democrats and no Republicans voted against it. Fifteen other lawmakers did not vote.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the legislation for the new session of Congress after her bill was passed last year by the GOP-led House but never got a vote in the Democrat-controlled Senate. The last time around, 158 House Democrats voted against the bill.
Just walked off the floor – after HR30 passes the House for a second time – 145 Democrats have a lot of explaining to do after being given a second chance to protect women and girls from illegals who r*pe, m*lest and m*rder them. pic.twitter.com/lm9oP6ibcr
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 16, 2025
“Just walked off the floor – after HR30 passes the House for a second time – 145 Democrats have a lot of explaining to do after being given a second chance to protect women and girls from illegals who r*pe, m*lest and m*rder them,” Mace said on X.
The bill states that it would “amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that aliens who have been convicted of or who have committed sex offenses or domestic violence are inadmissible and deportable.”
It also contains provisions that apply to crimes of stalking, child abuse, child neglect, child abandonment, or violating the portion of a protection order “against credible threats of violence, repeated harassment, or bodily injury” to the protectee.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, argued the bill was redundant when it came to cracking down on foreign national criminals and would “set back” efforts to protect victims because it could be used against these survivors if they are immigrants who resist their abusers.
Ranking Member @RepRaskin delivers his floor statement for H.R. 30—the so-called “Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act” that would harm survivors of domestic violence and does nothing to keep survivors safe. pic.twitter.com/9WAtjnU8Av
— House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) January 16, 2025
“Jamie Raskin isn’t telling the truth when he says my bill to deport r*pists, p*dophiles and m*rderers will set women back,” Mace shot back on X. “No. What sets women back are those on the Left that don’t want to deport the worst of the worst – those committing violence against women.”
Similar to other House bills that are getting a second chance in the new Congress, Mace’s legislation is once again heading to the Senate, which is now under Republican control.
“This commonsense solution should be an overwhelmingly bipartisan effort, but the American people must know only 28% of House Democrats voted to protect women from these predators,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement.
