Eleven Democrats Support Controversial Bill to Enhance Anti-Migrant Measures

On September 7, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the controversial Stop Illegal Entry Act, with eleven Democrats joining Republicans in support. The final vote stood at 226-197. Critics have labeled the bill as “dangerously overbroad,” describing its implications as “dehumanizing and horrific.” The legislation aims to increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who repeatedly enter the United States illegally or commit felonies after entry.

The eleven Democratic representatives who voted with the majority included Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Don Davis (North Carolina), Laura Gillen (New York), Jared Golden (Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Adam Gray (California), Kristen McDonald Rivet (Michigan), Frank Mrvan (Indiana), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington), Tom Suozzi (New York), and Gabe Vasquez (New Mexico). The bill, introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (Republican-Oklahoma) and Senator Ted Cruz (Republican-Texas), now awaits approval from the Senate before reaching the desk of President Donald Trump, who has expressed his support for the measure.

Advocates for immigrant rights have voiced strong opposition to the bill. Mike Zamore, the ACLU’s national director of policy and government affairs, stated that “HR 3486 would supercharge President Trump’s reckless deportation drive, which is already damaging our economy and destabilizing communities.” He emphasized that the legislation would provide the administration with more tools to criminalize immigrants while diverting resources from community safety programs.

On the House floor, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (Democrat-Washington), an immigrant herself, characterized the bill as “Republicans’ latest attempt to scapegoat and fearmonger about immigrants.” In her remarks, she highlighted that the legislation does not promote safety but instead aims to distract the public from more pressing issues.

In a similar vein, Representative Sylvia Garcia (Democrat-Texas) criticized the bill on social media, asserting that it fails to enhance community safety and instead imposes harsh mandatory minimums. She argued that it treats families seeking safety as if they were violent criminals and called for genuine immigration reform.

Congressman Dave Min (Democrat-California), whose parents are immigrants, expressed concern that the bill would hinder local law enforcement efforts. He noted that increasing the scope of crimes local police must enforce without additional funding could lead to reduced resources for community safety, potentially resulting in higher rates of violent crime.

Min further referenced a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to engage in what many critics describe as blatant racial profiling. He warned that the combination of this legislation and the ruling could lead to increased unlawful arrests and violent incidents involving ICE.

As the political landscape surrounding immigration continues to evolve, this vote highlights the complexities and divisions within Congress regarding how to approach the issue. With the bill now moving to the Senate, its future remains uncertain, but the implications for immigrant communities and law enforcement are significant.