Democrats are outraged after the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to block illegal aliens from voting in America’s federal elections.
The Republican-led bill, aimed at blocking foreign nationals from voting for Democrat President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, cleared the House with the help of several Democrats.
The GOP’s Secure America’s Vote (SAVE) Act would force election officials to verify the citizenship of voters.
It has the strong backing of President Donald Trump who urged the House to pass it, or else “go home and cry yourself to sleep.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) insisted legislation to make voters prove their citizenship could be one of the “most important” bills to go through Congress in a lifetime.
“This will be one of the most important votes that members of this chamber will ever take in their entire careers,” he said on the House floor Wednesday.
“And it’s an issue we never thought we would have to actually address, but that moment has come to us now,” he added.
Interestingly, five Democrats helped get the bill across the finish line in the House 221-198.
However, it faces a certain death in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Additionally, President Biden has also threatened to veto the legislation.
The SAVE Act has been facing severe criticism from Democrats who drawing comparisons to Jim Crow-era laws.
The bill requires voters to present proof of citizenship at the polls.
Proponents argue that such measures are essential for maintaining the integrity of elections, by preventing illegal voting practices.
However, Democrats claim this move is a regressive step toward voter suppression.
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) equates it to a modern-day poll tax, arguing that it creates a “financial burden” on citizens to obtain the necessary documentation for voting.
Identification costs, as noted by McClellan, include $4 per year for a driver’s license and $2 for a simple ID card in Virginia.
The Democrat congresswoman argues that an annual $2 cost places undue financial strain on some voters.
Biden has taken a firm stance against the SAVE Act, meanwhile.
His administration has indicated that he would veto the bill should it pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Biden claims the bill will cause potential harm to democratic access to voting.
This bill has been a focal point for GOP leaders during the electoral run-up, despite previous failures to attach it to critical spending measures earlier in the spring.
Their persistence highlights the bill’s significance in the current political landscape.
The issue of voter identification is a polarizing one, with many citizens in favor of strict laws.
Yet, Democrats argue that such measures allegedly affect minority and marginalized communities disproportionately.
However, Democrats have never provided evidence to support the claims that a $2-per-year cost for an ID would block minorities from voting.
Controversy deepens with accusations from William Gheen, founder of the ALIPAC movement.
Gheen is warning that the Democrats are using illegal aliens to inflate their voter base.
He alleges that Democrat operatives engage in a covert campaign to distribute ballots among these groups, utilizing various organizations.
Smuggling gangs have also been used to evade detection at polling stations, Gheen warns.
Gheen describes a detailed scenario where migrants are coerced into voting by threats of deportation, purportedly backed by high-profile Democrat leaders.
He asserts this strategy has been part of a long-standing effort to secure votes through underhanded means.
According to Gheen, since 2021, the Biden administration has facilitated the entry of at least seven million migrants.
Those illegal aliens have received support from federally-funded nonprofit groups predominantly in Democrat-controlled cities.
Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) criticizes the GOP’s motives behind the SAVE Act.
Lee suggests it is an attempt to suppress voter turnout among groups that traditionally do not support them.
She claims the bill is discriminatory in nature and alleges that it targets voices from minority communities.
The congresswoman did not provide supporting evidence, however.
Similarly, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), who was born to illegal aliens, labels the citizenship proof requirement as outright discriminatory.
Ramirez falsely claims that it specifically aims to disenfranchise certain voter segments.
The bill has ignited a fiery debate on the floors of Congress.
Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided over the implications of enforcing stricter voter identification laws.
The GOP insists it is a necessary step to safeguard the electoral process.
Democrats, meanwhile, claim it could erode fundamental democratic principles by restricting voter access.
With the White House poised to veto the bill, the outcome of this legislative battle could have wide-reaching effects on voter participation in future elections.
The controversy surrounding the SAVE Act underscores the ongoing struggle to ensure election security in the United States.
