State Representative Laurel Lee Serving Florida 15th District | Official U.S. House headshot
State Representative Laurel Lee Serving Florida 15th District | Official U.S. House headshot
On January 16, 2025, Congresswoman Laurel Lee from Florida's 15th district expressed her support for the recently passed House Bill H.R. 30, known as the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act. The legislation aims to address issues related to sexual assault and domestic violence committed by illegal immigrants.
In her statement, Rep. Laurel Lee emphasized the importance of protecting communities from threats posed by illegal immigrants. She stated, "For far too long, illegal immigrants have taken advantage of our open borders, threatening the safety of our communities. We have seen the tragic loss of life at the hands of criminal illegal immigrants who have been convicted or who have committed sex offenses or domestic violence. Enough is enough."
The bill establishes new grounds for inadmissibility and removability for aliens involved in specific offenses. It targets those convicted of or admitting to a second offense related to sexual assault or domestic violence. Furthermore, it addresses loopholes in current immigration law by introducing inadmissibility for certain domestic violence-related offenses and expanding existing definitions for sex offenses.
H.R. 30 also aligns inadmissibility criteria with current removability standards concerning domestic violence offenses. This alignment seeks to clarify and expand on what conduct can lead to an alien being removed from the United States.
Rep. Lee concluded her remarks by highlighting that House Republicans are committed to combating violence against women and securing national borders.