Freshman Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari was the sole “no” vote among Arizona’s congressional members on a bill to deport illegal alien rapists and predators.
Ansari joined 145 of her Democratic colleagues in voting against the legislation. 61 Democrats voted for the bill, including Congressman Greg Stanton.
The bill by South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace (HR 30) would not only deport illegal aliens convicted of sex and domestic violence crimes, it would expand inadmissibility for immigrants who admitted or were convicted of stalking, child abuse, child neglect, child abandonment, a sex offense, conspiracy to commit a sex offense, a violation of certain protective orders, or domestic violence.
In response to Democrat congressional members’ criticisms that her bill made unfair and sweeping generalizations of illegal aliens, Mace said she would gladly “demonize” those illegal immigrants who rape, murder, and molest American females.
“Under the border policies of Joe Biden and border czar Kamala Harris, our country has been ravaged by a horde of illegal aliens molesting American children, battering and bruising and beating up American women, and violently raping American women and girls,” said Mace. “My colleagues on the other side of this aisle like to minimize this issue because they refuse to acknowledge the consequences that their open borders agenda is here.”
Mace cited the latest ICE non-detained docket numbers (from July), which reported around 660,000 illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. Those numbers include over 100,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with assault, over 20,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with sexual assault or rape, over 12,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with sex offeness, over 3,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with kidnapping, and nearly 15,000 illegal aliens convicted of or charged with murder.
The ICE non-detained docket refers to illegal immigrants that are physically present in the United States and not in ICE detention, though they may be detained elsewhere, such as a federal prison.
This past year, ICE’s non-detained docket reached 7.4 million per Fox News.
“That is who the left are defending this morning: rapists, murderers, and pedophiles,” said Mace.
Last week, Ansari also voted against HR 29, the “Laken Riley Act,” named for late Georgia student Laken Riley, murdered by an illegal immigrant last February while out for a morning jog on her university campus.
Ansari acknowledged that Riley’s death constituted “a horrific tragedy.” However, Ansari claimed HR 29 would encourage discrimination against illegal immigrants, especially “DREAMers”: those illegal immigrants brought into the U.S. as minors given an alternative legal status under the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
“[T]he anti-immigrant bill being pushed by the House Republicans will do nothing to prevent this kind of violence or reform our broken immigration system,” stated Ansari. “Under this legislation, someone charged — just charged, not found guilty — could be immediately deported. This is a gross miscarriage of justice, and I voted no.”
Arizona’s Democratic congressional leaders voted against protecting females in sports from the intrusion of males identifying as females.
HR 28, the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025,” passed the House on Tuesday with 218 votes, with full support from Arizona’s Republican congressmen.
206 members voted against the bill, all Democrats. Freshman congresswoman Yassamin Ansari joined her veteran colleague Greg Stanton in a “no” vote on the legislation. Raúl Grijalva was one of nine members recorded as “not voting.”
During the House floor debate on the bill, Ansari pushed the claim of her congressional Democratic peers that HR 28 was a “Child Predator Empowerment Act” (per a sign the party propped up during arguments) that would endanger children.
“Everyone in this room knows that this legislation has the power to threaten the physical and mental safety of minors. Schools and athletic institutions already have rules around fairness and safety in children’s sports. This is literally why we have the NCAA,” said Ansari. “This bill is textbook government overreach meant to fuel division. Further, this bill provides no enforcement guidelines, insinuating Republicans are just fine with subjecting young women and girls to invasive, humiliating medical examinations and physical inspections. This is an attack on the physical and mental safety of all girls in this country as young as kindergarten.”
Days ahead of the vote, Ansari issued a statement online warning of “ongoing attacks on the rights and dignity of the LGBTQI+ community.” Both Ansari and Stanton have been consistent defenders of LGBTQI+ ideology. Ansari, Grijalva, and Stanton are all members of the Equality Caucus.
Over the next several years, we will face ongoing attacks on the rights and dignity of the LGBTQI+ community. I’m proud to be part of the @EqualityCaucus, standing firm in the fight to protect all Americans.
— Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (@RepYassAnsari) January 12, 2025
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 amends federal law (the Education Amendments of 1972) to preclude federal financial aid recipients operating, sponsoring, or facilitating an athletic program or activity from permitting males to participate in athletic programs or activities designated for females.
The bill defines sex as an individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
HR 28 does allow for males to train or practice with female-designated athletic programs or activities, so long as the male participation doesn’t deprive any female of a scholarship, roster spot on a team or sport, competition or practice participation, admission to an educational institution, or other benefits derived from participation in an athletic program or activity.
HR 28 also directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the benefits of females participating in female-designated sports, and the potential “psychological, developmental, participatory, and sociological” harms that emerge from male participation. The comptroller general would then submit the results to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives as well as the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
The act made quick progress through the House upon its reintroduction earlier this month by Florida Congressman Greg Steube. The congressman invoked Scripture and science during Tuesday’s arguments over the bill on the House floor, arguing that “the radical left” was intent on “dismantling the core of society” by normalizing gender ideology.
“Scripture reminds us that at the beginning of time, God created mankind as males and females and he blessed them. All throughout humanity we have recognized that there are men and there are women as God created, who are obviously biologically different and, dare I say, scientifically different,” said Steube. “Yet our culture and civilization continue to be subjected to the perverse lie that there are more than two genders, or that men can be women or women can be men.”
The last time my bill, The Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act, came to the floor, not a single Democrat supported it.
Biden threatened a veto, and Schumer let it die in the Senate.
But now, common sense is back in charge. With a soon to be Republican trifecta, my bill…
Members of Arizona’s Republican delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives were key to a border-related bill passing their chamber.
In one of the first legislative actions of the 119th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act, which was introduced by U.S. Congressman Mike Collins from Georgia. All members of Arizona’s Republican delegation voted in favor of the bill, as did one Democrat, U.S. Representative Greg Stanton.
According to its congressional summary, H.R. 29, if enacted would “require the Department of Homeland Security to detain certain non-U.S. nationals who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.”
One of Arizona’s Republicans who voted for the legislation, U.S. Congressman Eli Crane, said, “I’m pleased to report that the Laken Riley Act passed out of the House of Representatives. This bill will protect our communities and give our law enforcement agencies the resources they need to prevent avoidable tragedies. It’s appalling that 159 Democrats sided with criminal aliens by voting against this commonsense measure. Despite their senseless opposition, I’m glad we were once again able to get this bill across the finish line. I appreciate Rep. Mike Collins for his leadership, and I look forward to its swift passage in the U.S. Senate before heading to President Trump’s desk.”
Crane’s press release highlighted that this bill “directly addresses one of the federal policy failures related to Laken Riley’s murder. Her murderer, Jose Ibarra, is an illegal alien who had been previously cited for shoplifting by the Athens Policy Department. If local law enforcement had called ICE, and ICE issued a detainer and picked him up, Laken would be alive.”
U.S. Congressman Abraham Hamadeh added, “While we cannot possibly remediate the pain caused at the hands of violent illegal immigrants, we must do all we are able to do to stop illegal immigrant crime before it begins and save future American lives. This should be a unanimous and non-partisan issue. I’m grateful for my colleagues who see this as such.”
Thinking of Laken Riley’s family and all of those who have been affected by the crimes of illegal immigrants. pic.twitter.com/AxSQGdlCmh
U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani wrote, “Securing the southern border and protecting our citizens is a top priority in the 119th Congress! I voted for & cosponsor HR 29, the Laken Riley Act, to honor her memory and ensure bad actors here illegally are detained to prevent innocent lives from being lost to the crisis.”
Securing the southern border and protecting our citizens is a top priority in the 119th Congress!
I voted for & cosponsor HR 29, the Laken Riley Act, to honor her memory and ensure bad actors here illegally are detained to prevent innocent lives from being lost to the crisis.
— Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) January 7, 2025
The bill was named after a young woman at a Georgia nursing school who was horrifically and tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant in the United States. Late last year, the murderer was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole. After the conclusion of the trial, President-elect Donald J. Trump said, “JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY! The Illegal who killed our beloved Laken Riley was just found GUILTY on all counts for his horrific crimes. Although the pain and heartbreak will last forever, hopefully this can help bring some peace and closure to her wonderful family who fought for Justice, and to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what they have. We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you. It is time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country, so nothing like this can happen again!”
The Laken Riley Act now heads to the U.S. Senate, where it will need all Republicans and at least seven Democrats to support its passage in order to send it to the president’s desk for his signature. U.S. Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, co-sponsored the measure, saying, “Laken Riley’s story is a tragic reminder of what’s at stake when our systems fail to protect people. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to preventable violence. Immigration is what makes our country great. I support giving authorities the tools to prevent tragedies like this one while we work on comprehensive solutions to our broken system.”
Allyson and John Phillips, Riley’s mother and stepfather, spoke out in support of the bill as it proceeded through the congressional process. They said, “The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of heartbreak we’ve experienced. Laken would have been 23 on January 10th. There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill. Every single member of Congress should be able to get behind this purely commonsense bill that will make our country and communities safer. We thank Congressman Mike Collins, Senator Katie Britt, and Senator Ted Budd for continuing to work to honor Laken’s legacy and get this legislation enacted into law.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. His death followed nearly two years in hospice care and the death of his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at age 96 in November 2023. In response to Carter’s passing, Arizona political leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties offered rare and non-partisan expressions of sympathy and mourning.
The Arizona Republican Party succinctly posted, “Rest in Peace President Carter,” a simple direct message to address the passing of a political opponent.
The Arizona Democratic Party meanwhile offered a lengthier post writing, “The Arizona Democratic Party mourns the passing of Jimmy Carter, a man of profound humility, compassion, and dedication to humanity. President Carter moved our nation forward, from brokering peace in the Middle East to championing women’s rights.”
The Arizona Democratic Party mourns the passing of Jimmy Carter, a man of profound humility, compassion, and dedication to humanity.
President Carter moved our nation forward, from brokering peace in the Middle East to championing women’s rights. https://t.co/4lPtyNCABt
Arizona Senate Democrats courted controversy in their post writing, “Rest in Power,” as opposed to the traditional “Rest in Peace.”
One commenter replied, “Rest in power? Don’t disrespect a legendary man by saying something he wouldn’t have said. Recognize him for who he was.” Another chastised the AZ Senate Dems writing, “What dei hire wrote this? Rest in power? Lame.”
Embattled Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs offered the following: “President Jimmy Carter lived an exemplary life of service, fighting for peace and prosperity across the globe. On behalf of the State of Arizona, we send our love to the Carter Family and the millions worldwide whose lives are better because of President Carter’s legacy.”
President Jimmy Carter lived an exemplary life of service, fighting for peace and prosperity across the globe.
On behalf of the State of Arizona, we send our love to the Carter Family and the millions worldwide whose lives are better because of President Carter's legacy.
Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote a lengthier post, sharing the story from The Washington Post: “America has lost a true servant leader. President Jimmy Carter’s century-long life was defined by his integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serving his country and his fellow man.”
She continued, “From his military service to his leadership in the White House — and his tireless work with Habitat for Humanity and global humanitarian efforts — he showed us what it truly means to live for others. Rest in peace, President Carter.”
From his military service to his leadership in the White House — and his tireless work with Habitat for Humanity and global humanitarian efforts — he showed us what it truly means to live for others. Rest in peace, President Carter.
Democrat Senator Mark Kelly highlighted Carter’s philanthropy after his presidency, in addition to his human rights work writing, “Always humble, President Carter showed us that public service isn’t limited to elected office. He leaves a legacy not just as a president, but as a great American who wore the uniform, built homes for his neighbors, and worked for human rights across the globe.”
Always humble, President Carter showed us that public service isn’t limited to elected office. He leaves a legacy not just as a president, but as a great American who wore the uniform, built homes for his neighbors, and worked for human rights across the globe. https://t.co/dSMsydpbBK
Senator-elect Ruben Gallego, like his fellow Democrat Kelly, offered a short post of condolences writing, “A life dedicated to peace, justice, and compassion. Rest in peace, President Jimmy Carter. Sydney and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family.”
A life dedicated to peace, justice, and compassion. Rest in peace, President Jimmy Carter. Sydney and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family. https://t.co/MGXbh7uyw3
Democrat Congressman Greg Stanton released a statement addressing Carter’s service as a naval officer, the Governor of Georgia, and his presidency. He wrote, “Above all, he was an honorable man with unimpeachable character. Guided by his deep Christian faith, he built homes for the needy and taught Sunday School well into his 90s. He set a fine example for each of us for what it means to love thy neighbor.”
On the Republican side of Congress, Congressman Andy Biggs called upon supporters to join in prayer “for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter.” He wrote in full, “Please join me in praying for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter. President Carter passed away this afternoon at the age of 100. I pray that peace surrounds all who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.”
Please join me in praying for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter.
President Carter passed away this afternoon at the age of 100.
I pray that peace surrounds all who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.
Congressman-elect Abe Hamadeh also highlighted Carter’s humanitarian work writing, “Yesterday, we lost a great humanitarian. President Jimmy Carter was a proud Navy veteran and compassionate humanitarian. He dedicated his life to serving his country and community. His legacy of kindness will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, President Carter.”
Yesterday, we lost a great humanitarian. President Jimmy Carter was a proud Navy veteran and compassionate humanitarian. He dedicated his life to serving his country and community. His legacy of kindness will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, President Carter. pic.twitter.com/azzCQcfzn5
Carter’s upcoming state funeral is slated for January 9th and could potentially run for ten days until the 19th, just one day prior to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Amidst calls from the radical left for Trump to be barred from the proceedings, Arizona’s political figures largely kept remarks on the death of Carter civil and solemn in an example the rest of the nation could hopefully follow.
The nation may see the benefits of hydropower expansion in Arizona, depending on President Joe Biden’s approval of an Arizona congressman’s bill.
That bill, HR 1607 from Congressman David Schweikert, transfers National Forest System land near the Salt River in Arizona to the Bureau of Reclamation for the purpose of additional hydropower generation within the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project.
In remarks before the House last year, Schweikert explained that pumped storage hydroelectricity supplements energy resources in the state.
“It’s environmentally sound, it actually allows us to take care of something that is somewhat unique for us in the desert southwest, and that is the solar power we produce,” said Schweikert.
Pumped storage hydroelectricity pumps water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir during low energy demand. During high energy demand, the upper reservoir releases downhill into the lower reservoir through hydropower turbines to generate around 10-12 hours of reliable energy.
In a press release, Schweikert said the legislation proved Arizona’s standing as a state leading on energy production and efficiency.
“Once again, Arizona has proven to lead the charge to deliver innovation and make life more efficient for Arizonans at a time when our state’s economy and population continue to explode,” said Schweikert. “The near unanimous support for this legislation proves that America is ready to embrace long-term energy storage technologies to expand the supply of affordable and reliable energy for our communities.”
Schweikert thanked his Democratic colleague, Congressman Greg Stanton, for his assistance in getting the bill passed with bipartisan support.
“I’m incredibly thankful for my friend and colleague, Rep. Stanton, who’s been crucial to this process of embracing innovation, and I’m looking forward to seeing this technology benefit Arizona,” said Schweikert in the press release.
Stanton contributed a statement to Schweikert’s press release, adding that the pumped storage hydroelectric expansion couldn’t come at a better time.
“Not only do pumped storage projects provide greater flexibility and improve reliability in our energy grid, but they also cut utility costs for Arizona families and businesses,” said Stanton. “This critical legislation passed the House with an overwhelming majority last year, and today it’s on its way to becoming law.”
It was a bipartisan coalition of elected leaders that ensured the passage of Schweikert’s bill. Both the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed the legislation unanimously.
Schweikert introduced the bill last March. The House passed the bill last November, where it awaited Senate review for over a year. The Senate approved the bill on Tuesday. Arizona Senators Mark Kelly (D) and Kyrsten Sinema (I) introduced companion legislation in March, SB 739, which has advanced to Biden’s desk.
Kelly said in the press release that the expansion would not only strengthen the state’s energy grid but result in lower energy costs for Arizonans.
“Expanding pumped-storage hydropower in Arizona will strengthen our energy grid and lower energy costs for families,” said Kelly. “This is about using technology to make our energy more reliable and affordable.”
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