New Legislation Targets Undocumented Immigrants with Specific Convictions

At a Glance

The House passed a bill requiring deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of sex offenses or domestic violence.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, passed with bipartisan support.
Opponents claim the bill is redundant and could inadvertently harm survivors of domestic abuse.
The bill aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent serious offenders from staying in the U.S.

House Passes Key Immigration Bill

The House of Representatives has passed the “Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act,” introduced by South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace. This critical piece of legislation mandates the deportation of undocumented immigrants convicted of domestic violence or sexual offenses. The bill received strong bipartisan support, passing by a vote of 266 to 158, with 51 Democrats joining all Republicans in favor.

The legislation aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make aliens convicted of sex offenses or domestic violence inadmissible and deportable. This legislative move addresses a broader Republican agenda focused on immigration issues, aligning with efforts to protect American communities from criminal activity by illegal immigrants.

Introduction and Debate

Rep. Nancy Mace, a prominent advocate for victims of violence, sponsored the bill. Mace, herself a survivor of rape and domestic violence, passionately defended it on the House floor. She criticized lawmakers who make excuses for criminals based on their immigration status, emphasizing that the bill is about common sense and protecting innocent victims.

“I myself am a survivor of rape,” Mace said. “I understand the lifelong trauma as someone who has survived rape, as someone who has been in a domestic violence situation where I was also the victim. I don’t wanna hear it. If you’re here illegally at all, you should be gone.”

House Republican leadership, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), strongly supported the bill. Scalise criticized “woke prosecutors” for not enforcing existing laws and accused Democrats of inconsistency in their stance on protecting women. Opponents, including House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jerry Nadler (D-NY), argued that the bill is redundant with current laws and could have unintended consequences for domestic abuse survivors.

House debating bill that would allow US to deport illegal immigrants who commit crimes https://t.co/xEDleEoPYe

— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) March 7, 2024

A Broader Republican Agenda

The passage of this bill is part of a larger Republican legislative agenda targeting border issues and criticizing Democrat-led policies. Other GOP efforts have also received modest Democratic support, such as the recent Laken Riley Act, which aims to detain and deport migrants convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) strongly advocated the bill, accusing Democrats of not adequately protecting women.

“Everybody on the House floor should vote for that bill,” Scalise said. “But if any Democrat there vote against it, they’re going to have to explain to people back home who are watching this be carried out in every community in America, why they would rather stand with illegals than women in their own districts that they represent.”

Future Legislative Actions

In addition to the deportation bill, the House also scheduled votes on a continuing resolution to extend funding and the SAVE Act, which aims to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections. This continuing resolution is expected to fail, necessitating further negotiations for a spending deal. The Republican legislative offensive underscores a focus on strict immigration enforcement and criticism of the Biden-Harris administration’s policies.

“Here we are again, debating another partisan bill that fear mongers about immigrants, instead of working together to fix the immigration system,” said Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.

The bill’s progression will be closely monitored as it moves through the Senate. The outcome will significantly impact immigration policy and the safety of domestic violence survivors across the nation.