NEGATIVE Immigration 118th Congress

H.R.7909 Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act

Makes sex offenses by noncitizens grounds for deportation and inadmissibility (118th Congress)

Legal & Constitutional Grounding

Existing INA provisions already cover serious sex offenses; expanding creates disproportionate consequences.

INA § 237(a)(2) (8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)) — existing criminal grounds of deportability already cover aggravated felonies including serious sex offenses

14th Amendment, Equal Protection — expanding deportable offense categories beyond current INA provisions creates disproportionate consequences for charges that may not result in conviction

Bill activity

Introduced Apr 9, 2024 by Nancy Mace (R-SC) with 2 original cosponsors. 6 cosponsors as of May 22, 2024. Passed the House Sep 18, 2024, 266-158.

Reached the House floor after the House Committee on the Judiciary reported it (H. Rept. 118-650), under a special rule from the Rules Committee (H.Res.1455).

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) is not listed among the cosponsors of this bill. Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) voted yea on the House roll call counted in grades (roll no. 429, Sep 18, 2024).

IntroducedApr 9, 2024
Passed HouseSep 18, 2024
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law

Latest action Sep 19, 2024: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

6 cosponsors (2 original):

Andy Biggs (R-AZ) original
Lauren Boebert (R-CO) original
Andy Harris (R-MD) Apr 11, 2024
Laurel M. Lee (R-FL) May 21, 2024
Scott Perry (R-PA) May 22, 2024
Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) May 22, 2024

Cosponsorship closed Sep 6, 2024 (118th Congress): the House Judiciary Committee reported the bill.

Activity log

Source: Congress.gov actions

April 2024
Apr 9
Introduced in House
Apr 9
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 9
2 original cosponsors on the day of introduction
- Andy Biggs R-AZ, original
- Lauren Boebert R-CO, original
Apr 11
Andy Harris cosponsored (R-MD)
May 2024
May 21
Laurel M. Lee cosponsored (R-FL)
May 22
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse
May 22
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 6.House
May 22
2 members cosponsored
- Scott Perry R-PA
- Troy E. Nehls R-TX
September 2024
Sep 6
Reported (Amended) by the House Committee on the Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-650.
Sep 6
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 547.House
Sep 17
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1455 Reported to House.
Sep 18
House floor day: vote on the rule (H.Res.1455), passage (9 steps)
1. 1:59 pmOn ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 206 - 196 (Roll no. 420).
2. 2:05 pmPassed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 214 - 200 (Roll no. 421).
3. 3:56 pmConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1455.
4. 3:56 pmRule provides for consideration of H.R. 3724, H.R. 4790, H.R. 5179, H.R. 5339, H.R. 5717, H.R. 7909 and H.J. Res. 136. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3724 and H.R. 5717 under a structured rule and H.R. 4790,...
5. 3:57 pmDEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7909.
6. 4:30 pmThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
7. 4:31 pmPOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 7909, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Lee (FL) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair...
8. 6:27 pmConsidered as unfinished business.
9. 6:33 pmOn passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 266 - 158 (Roll no. 429). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5354)
Sep 18
House vote: Passage of the billCounted in grades
Passed, 266-158
Of 6 cosponsors: 6 voted yea, 0 voted nay.
Member breakdown · Official House roll call 429
Sep 18
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House
Sep 19
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Votes on this bill

3 votes: 3 recorded roll calls and 0 decided without a recorded vote, 0 of them on amendments. Votes counted in grades are marked.

Sep 18, 20241:59 pmHouseVote to end debate on the rule (ordering the previous question)
H.Res.1455On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 206 - 196 (Roll no. 420).Agreed to206-196Nay

Party	Yea	Nay	Not voting
Democratic	0	196	15
Republican	206	0	14
Independent	0	0	0
Total	206	196	29

Official House roll call

Sep 18, 20242:05 pmHouseVote on the rule (H.Res.1455)On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 214 - 200 (Roll no. 421).Agreed to214-200Nay

Party	Yea	Nay	Not voting
Democratic	0	200	11
Republican	214	0	6
Independent	0	0	0
Total	214	200	17

Official House roll call

Sep 18, 20246:33 pmHousePassage of the billCounted in gradesOn passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 266 - 158 (Roll no. 429). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5354)Passed266-158Yea

Counted in grades

Of 6 cosponsors: 6 voted yea, 0 voted nay. Question voted on: Passage of the bill

Party	Yea	Nay	Not voting
Democratic	51	158	2
Republican	215	0	5
Independent	0	0	0
Total	266	158	7

Official House roll call

Amendments

1 amendment: 1 agreed to.

Agreed to (1)

H.Amdt.1196Sep 18
Substitute text adopted under the rule (H.Res.1455)

Official text

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1455, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 118-47 is considered adopted.

Without a recorded vote

Makes sex offenses by noncitizens grounds for deportation and inadmissibility. Existing INA provisions already cover serious criminal offenses; expanding deportable offense categories beyond current law creates disproportionate consequences for charges that may not result in conviction.