A bill aimed at booting illegal immigrants out of the U.S. if they assault a police officer passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening.
It’s one of several pieces of legislation that House Republican leaders are putting up for a vote this week as part of National Police Week.
The bill passed with a 265 to 148 vote, with 54 Democrats voting with the GOP.
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A significant number of House Democrats, who are led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, shunned the House GOP’s bill. (Getty Images)
The bill is called the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act and is led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J.
He said in February when the bill was being introduced, “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 oflaw or our institutions, and they will not be positive contributors to society.”
The bill would require illegal immigrants to be detained by federal authorities until they can be deported. It would also “create a new category for migrant inadmissibility” specifically dealing with illegal immigrants who were accused of assaulting police, Van Drew said.
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This image from video shows a brawl between New York City Police Department officers and illegal immigrants in Times Square on Jan. 27, 2024. (Manhattan District Attorney via AP)
The No. 3 House Republican, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital when the bill passed, “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.”
It comes after several recent instances of illegal immigrants attacking police have gained national attention as the country continues to grapple with the ongoing illegal immigration crisis at the southern border.
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Speaker Mike Johnson is having the House vote on a host of National Police Week-related bills. (Getty Images)
A group of illegal immigrants was seen on video violently attacking two New York City police officers in Times Square in late January.
And in early March, a man who came to the U.S. illegally was accused of killing a Washington State Patrol trooper when he crashed into him on an interstate highway, according to Fox 13.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com