In a somewhat surprising turn of events, more than 4 dozen Democrats sided with their Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a bill that would require the federal government to deport any illegal immigrant who attacks a police officer. The bill was passed despite significant hostility from the majority of the Democrats in the House, with the vote ending up 265 to 148.
The bill, called the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act, was introduced by New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew in February of 2024. The recently passed bill requires the federal government to hold illegal immigrants in its custody until they are deported and, as the bill’s name implies, requires that those illegal immigrants who attack police officers be deported by the federal government as soon as possible.
Speaking about the bill and why he sees it as being important at the time that he introduced it, Rep. Van Drew said, “There is no reason that an illegal alien who attacks our law enforcement should remain in our country; that shows zero respect for our rule of law or our institutions, and they will not be positive contributors to society.”
Rep. Van Drew commented on the bill after its passage as well. Posting on X in response to a tweeta bou the illegal immigrant from Venezuela who shot two New York police officers, he said, “And yet 148 Democrats voted against my bill, the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act, which would keep criminals like this illegal immigrant off our streets and out of our country.”
Also commenting on the bill after it made its way through the House, Rep. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip and, as such, the number 3 Republican, said, “House Democrats just voted to protect violent, illegal immigrants over our brave law enforcement officers. Once again, the Democrat Party proves they are the most anti-law enforcement party in history.”
Former President Donald Trump, posting about crime and migrants on his Trump Social platform, wrote, “Biden Migrant Crime is out of control and is ravaging America! Last night, two brave NYPD officers doing their job were shot by a Monster Illegal Immigrant who came here illegally from Venezuela last year and was living in a tax-payer funded migrant shelter.”
Continuing, and blaming Biden again for importing such people and putting Americans at risk by doing so, the former president wrote, “Crooked Joe Biden has trafficked in the worst people from around the world, many with heinous criminal records, and unleashed them into our communities.”
Then, torching DA Bragg and saying he should be keeping New Yorkers safe rather than prosecuting his political opponents, the former president argued, “Soros-funded DA Alvin Bragg should focus on keeping the streets of New York safe, but has instead wasted time and money engaging in a ridiculous political witch-hunt against yours truly. We must focus on finishing the wall, securing our border, and keeping our streets safe. MAGA 2024!”
Watch Rep. Van Drew speak about the need for border security and stopping traffickers during the Exploitation of Unaccompanied Alien Children hearing here:
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