145 House Dems vote against bill to deport migrants who commit sexual assault

More than 140 Democrats voted against a House bill to deport illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes on Thursday.

The legislation passed along bipartisan lines in a 274 to 145 vote. All present Republicans supported the bill, while the opposition was all made up of Democratic lawmakers. 

Elon Musk has notably been among the bill's most ardent supporters, even calling for lawmakers who voted against it to lose their House seats.

However, Democrats argued the bill would harm domestic abuse victims who fight back against their partners and broaden the definition of domestic violence to the detriment of survivors.

During debate on the bill Thursday morning, progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said the bill "does absolutely nothing to address the needs of the American people" and "widens the highway to Donald Trump's mass deportation plans."

Jayapal said it would "create a chilling effect for reporting future crimes" and "empower abusers to go after immigrant women and children."

Mace wrote on X during debate on the bill, "The Left justifying why they are against deporting r*pists, p*deophiles, and m*rderers who are here ILLEGALLY, never ceases to amaze me."

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the No. 3 House Republican, also criticized Democrats who voted against the bill.

"House Democrats' votes against H.R. 30 should be seen for what they are: Prioritizing criminal illegal immigrants over the safety and well-being of their constituents. It's unconscionable that we have to pass legislation like this, much less have members oppose it," Emmer told Fox News Digital.

Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, one of the Republicans who voted for the bill, argued the Biden administration's border policies made the bill necessary and said the legislation would "ensure that any illegal immigrant who commits a sex crime or domestic violence offense is swiftly detained and deported."