Just days after the U.S. House passed the Laken Riley Act in response to the murder of a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student at the hands of a repeatedly-released illegal alien, Congress took up a bill specifically targeting illegals convicted of sex crimes.
Like the Laken Riley Act, a majority of Democrats opposed it, including local Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware). But 61 Democrats joined every Republican to pass the bill with a massive 274-145 majority. Among them was Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester).
The Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, which now goes to the Senate, orders the deportation of illegal aliens who commit sex offenses. It also mandates that illegal aliens convicted of sex offenses or domestic violence—or those who admit to such crimes—will be deemed inadmissible to the United States.
“No family should endure the heartbreak the families of Laken Riley, Mollie Tibbetts, Karina Vetrano, and Maddie Hines have experienced,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). “Every woman and every girl deserves to feel safe in their own community. The radical left doesn’t agree with this.”
Dean, Houlahan, and Scanlon did not respond to DVJournal’s requests for comments.
Jessica M. Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, called out the Democrats who voted against this bill.
“It’s astounding that any member of Congress would vote against a bill to deport violent sex offenders and those who commit domestic violence. And it’s especially astounding that women in Congress would vote against it, when they typically champion any legislation, any federal funding, any new programs to combat violence against women.
“Sadly, we have more than enough Americans who threaten and attack women. There’s no reason to protect such criminals who are here illegally. Whatever their views on immigration, surely Americans can agree on this common-sense measure. Most would be shocked that it is not already the law.”
State Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) was also disappointed.
“Democrats in Congress have lost touch with common sense and what our families want. Measures to better protect women from sexual assault have strong support of all Americans, and those who voted against this bill voted against all of us.”