More than 150 Democrats voted against Republican Representative Nancy Mace's bill that would ensure undocumented immigrants convicted of sex offenses are deported or deemed inadmissible to the country.
The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act passed in a 266-158 vote on Wednesday. Every Republican present voted for the bill, as did 51 Democrats, while 158 Democrats voted against it.
The bill would also deport or deem inadmissible to the country undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of, or admit to having committed, sex offenses, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse or violating a protection order.
It comes as immigration is among the most important issues on the minds of voters ahead of November's election, with former President Donald Trump and Republicans repeatedly claiming that President Joe Biden's immigration policies have led to a spike in violent crime by people who are in the country illegally. Studies have generally found no link between immigration and violent crime.
