Group of Democrats Join GOP in Xenophobic, Pro-Police Pandering for National Police Week

This week is National Police Week. Last week, apparently, also was: it seems fitting that police would give themselves an even longer recognition week than others, even though they reliably get what they want out of elected officials at all levels.

The Republican House celebrated by passing two bills that would ultimately harm public safety.

The first, named the “Police Act,” would make being charged (charged, not even convicted) of “assaulting a law enforcement officer” a deportable offense. Assaulting a law enforcement, a charge that is often abused and overused by cops, is already a punishable crime. Aggravated felony convictions are already deportable offenses for undocumented immigrants.

As Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler noted in the minority report on the bill, “This bill applies largely to people who have been lawfully admitted
to the country, people who have set down roots and established themselves in the United States. For years, we have had a bipartisan understanding that individuals like these should only be deported for a serious offense. This bill breaks down that understanding.”

Moreover, because of the bill’s intentionally broad drafting, it could lead to the deportation of individuals who did nothing even close to a violent crime. There is neither a requirement that physical harm was caused or that the individual was convicted of the alleged crime. As Nadler further explains, “Without any limitations, this could lead to absurd results. For example, under the terms of this bill, a green card holder in a fire who pushes a firefighter out of the way of a falling beam would have committed assault and would become deportable. Likewise, if a foreign student whose religion prohibits blood transfusions is receiving medical care from an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and he swats the EMT’s hand away because she is trying to give him a blood transfusion, that student will have committed the elements of an assault on a law enforcement officer and become deportable under this bill.” (emphases added)

During the committee markup of the bill, Republicans rejected amendments by Nadler to require an element of intent (that the person actually intend to harm a law enforcement officer) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal to require a conviction before a person can be deported, both on party line votes.

When the bill was brought to the floor, the House shamefully passed it 255 to 175, with 36 Democrats joining Republicans.

Here are the 36 Democrats:

Republican extremist Lauren Boebert (CO-03) offered an amendment to require the Depart of Homeland Security to publish an annual report on the number of undocumented immigrants deported under the law, an attempt to fear-monger about immigrants. 84 Democrats joined Republicans in this xenophobic display, enabling the amendment to pass 303 to 126. Here are the 84 Democrats:

The other bill passed yesterday was the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act, which allows federal agencies to sell a retired handgun to a federal law enforcement officer rather than destroy the handgun without conducting a background check as otherwise required by law.

This bill passed 232 to 198, with 13 Democrats joining Republicans.

The 13 Democrats were Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), Angie Craig (MN-02), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), Jared Golden (ME-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Dean Phillips (MN-03).

Democrat Sara Jacobs (CA-51) sought to improve the bill with an amendment by defining the bill’s “good standing” prerequisite by requiring each federal agency to establish formal criteria, ensuring that agency standards are consistent with the federal background check system. It failed 216 to 219, with two Republicans — Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) — joining Democrats in support of it.

The House narrowly passed an amendment from Republican Matt Rosendale (MT) to allow semiautomatic assault weapons, sniper rifles, and military-grade weaponry to be purchased without a background check. It passed 218 to 217, with 3 Republicans — Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Thomas Kean Jr. (NJ-07) — joining Democrats in voting no.

Republican Morgan Luttrell (TX-08)’s amendment to extend the law to retired federal law enforcement officers passed 232 to 202.

13 Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Angie Craig (MN-02), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Susan Wild (PA-07). Republican Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) voted no.

Republican Richard McCormick (GA-06)’s amendment to subsidize these gun sales to federal police (reducing the sale price from “fair market value” to “salvage value”) passed 248 to 184.

Three Republicans voted against it: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Young Kim (CA-40), and Jay Obernolte (CA-23).

33 Democrats voted for it: