The U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act" on January 16, 2025, in a largely partisan vote. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., mandates the deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of sexual offenses or domestic violence and prohibits the entry of immigrants with past sex crime convictions.

The House passed the bill 274-145, with 145 Democrats opposing it. Rep. Mace reintroduced the bill in January 2025, determined to protect women and hold criminal migrants accountable after its 2024 failure in the Senate. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces further challenges, The Daily Caller reported.

The measure garnered strong support from House Republicans, who hailed it as a necessary step to protect women and make communities safer. "Every woman and every girl deserves to feel safe in their own community," Rep. Mace said after the vote. She also took aim at her Democratic colleagues, criticizing their opposition to the bill, stating, "One hundred and forty-five liberals in Congress love illegal immigrant rapists and murderers."

Opponents of the bill, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., argued that it could lead to the deportation of domestic violence victims who may be illegal migrants or foreign nationals. "This isn’t complicated," Mace responded, emphasizing that deporting criminal illegal aliens was simply common sense. Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, accused the bill of continuing the mass deportation efforts championed by former President Donald Trump.

Opposition from Key Democrats

Rep. Jayapal criticized the bill’s potential to hurt victims of domestic violence. "Today, the House passed a bill that takes the Violence Against Women Act and weaponizes it AGAINST domestic violence victims — making it easier to deport survivors who act in self-defense," she said.

Many Democrats shared concerns that the legislation would disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including those fleeing abuse.

While Mace's bill seeks to address violent crime committed by illegal immigrants, its broad provisions on deportation have raised alarms among immigration advocates. The bill not only mandates deportation for those convicted of sex crimes or domestic violence but also blocks the entry of immigrants previously convicted of sex offenses.

Rep. Mace has strongly defended the bill, pointing to high-profile cases of violence that have gained national attention. "No family should endure the heartbreak the families of Laken Riley, Mollie Tibbetts, Karina Vetrano, and Maddie Hines have experienced," she stated. These tragic incidents, Mace argued, underscore the importance of the bill in ensuring public safety.

House Democrats Face Split Decision on Immigration and Crime

While the bill passed the House with broad Republican support, it failed to gain significant backing from Democrats. Only 61 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, representing less than a third of the Democratic conference.

The split vote highlights the deep divide on immigration issues within the party, with some lawmakers prioritizing immigrant rights and others focusing on public safety.

Rep. Mace's legislation now faces an uncertain future in the Senate. In 2024, a version of the bill passed the House but failed to clear the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked the measure from advancing last year, citing concerns over its impact on immigrant communities. It remains to be seen whether Senate Republicans, led by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, will be able to advance the bill in its current form or whether changes will be required to win broader support.

Future of the Legislation in the Senate

The bill's passage in the House signals that Republicans are poised to continue pressing for stricter immigration policies, particularly in the realm of public safety. However, Senate Democrats are likely to push back against provisions they view as overly punitive or harmful to vulnerable populations.

Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall has already introduced the bill as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act, a broader immigration reform package. The outcome in the Senate will largely depend on whether Republicans can secure enough votes from moderates and if they are able to address concerns from Democrats regarding its impact on victims of domestic violence.

As the bill heads to the Senate, it’s clear that the issue of illegal immigration, particularly concerning violent crimes committed by non-citizens, will remain a key point of contention in the 2025 legislative session. While Republicans argue that the bill is necessary for the protection of women, many Democrats view it as a step backward for immigrant rights and a move toward mass deportation.

Continued Debate Over Immigration and Public Safety

In the coming weeks, the bill is expected to be a focal point in the broader debate over immigration reform. While proponents of the bill focus on its potential to improve public safety and protect women, critics are concerned that it could harm vulnerable populations, including victims of abuse.

With both sides firmly entrenched in their positions, it’s unclear how the Senate will ultimately handle the bill and whether it will find broader bipartisan support.

The debate over immigration policy, particularly in relation to crimes committed by illegal migrants, continues to shape the national political landscape. As lawmakers in both the House and Senate consider how to address these complex issues, the bill’s future remains uncertain.