Balint Votes To Not Deport Violent Felons

Balint Votes To Not Deport Violent Felons

When the U.S. House of Representatives recently voted on H.R. 7909, the “Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act,” a bill designed to prioritize the deportation of non-citizens—including both illegal aliens and lawful immigrants—convicted of violent crimes such as domestic violence and sexual assault, most Americans would expect their elected officials to stand firmly for public safety. Yet Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) voted against this measure, choosing to side with convicted criminals over the safety of her constituents.

A Bill to Protect the Innocent

H.R. 7909 is as straightforward as legislation gets. It targets only those convicted of the most egregious violent crimes, ensuring their removal from the United States. This bill is not about law-abiding non-citizens or individuals who contribute to their communities; it is about predators—those who commit acts of violence that destroy lives.

The bill passed with bipartisan support, as 51 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to protect their constituents. But Becca Balint stood with 158 Democrats who voted “nay.”

Opponents, such as Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), claimed the bill could have “unintended consequences.” But let’s be clear: the only individuals affected by this legislation are those convicted of violent crimes. This isn’t a hypothetical issue—it’s a real and pressing problem with devastating consequences.

Balint’s Vote by the Numbers

Opponents often lean on two escape hatches to avoid serious conversations: the “small fraction” fallacy and the “non-citizens don’t commit many crimes” myth. Both deserve scrutiny.

First, the small fraction argument. It’s true that non-citizens account for only 5.4% of violent crime arrests. That may sound negligible—until you realize that this “small fraction” translates into some 67,500 violent crimes in a single year. That’s not a statistic; that’s 67,500 lives upended by murder, rape, assault, or other heinous acts.

Each one of those crimes represents a failure of the system to do its most basic job: protect Americans. And for crimes committed by illegal aliens, these tragedies are entirely preventable. If these individuals had been removed from the country as they should have been, those 67,500 crimes would have never occurred.

The fact that the system allowed so many non-citizens convicted of violent crimes to remain in the country exposes a critical flaw in immigration enforcement. Law-abiding citizens have every right to demand better from their leaders, especially when public safety is at stake.

How the Process Works—and Its Failures

When a non-citizen commits a violent crime in the U.S., the criminal justice process often determines whether they are prosecuted, incarcerated, or deported first. Here’s how it typically unfolds:

Criminal Prosecution First: Non-citizens arrested for violent crimes are usually charged and prosecuted under U.S. criminal law. If convicted, they serve their sentences in state or federal prisons. Only after completing their sentences are they transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for removal proceedings.

Immediate Deportation in Some Cases: In certain situations, non-citizens are deported without serving prison time. This can occur when resources are limited, offenses are deemed less severe, or when local jurisdictions refuse to cooperate with ICE. While deportation ensures the individual is removed from U.S. soil, it often means they avoid serving full justice for their crimes. Worse, the risk of illegal re-entry remains, leaving victims and communities vulnerable.

Failures of Enforcement: Policies in some jurisdictions, like sanctuary cities (Vermont), obstruct cooperation with federal immigration authorities. These policies can result in violent offenders being released back into the community instead of being turned over to ICE for deportation. This failure to act exposes citizens to avoidable harm.

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Comparing U.S. Policies to Other Nations

It’s worth noting that many countries take a far stricter approach to immigration enforcement. For example, in nations like Mexico, unauthorized entry is a criminal offense, often resulting in immediate detention or deportation. Border violations in other countries may result in harsher penalties, including imprisonment or even lethal force in extreme cases.

In contrast, the U.S. approach is relatively lenient, especially when it comes to violent offenders. Deportation is often delayed by lengthy legal processes, and some non-citizens remain in the country even after being convicted of serious crimes. This leniency is difficult to reconcile with the government’s primary responsibility to protect its citizens.

Balint’s Misplaced Priorities

By voting against H.R. 7909, Balint effectively placed the hypothetical concerns of non-citizens above the real safety of American citizens. The claim of “unintended consequences” is a weak shield when the reality is clear: this bill applies only to those convicted of violent crimes. The victims of these crimes are not hypothetical—they are real people whose lives have been forever altered.

This vote raises a serious question: who does Becca Balint serve? Is it the law-abiding citizens of Vermont who deserve safety and protection? Or is it non-citizens, including those who have already violated the law by their presence and compounded that by committing violent acts?

It’s About Prevention

The most heartbreaking aspect of these 67,500 violent crimes is that they were entirely preventable. Illegal aliens who commit violent crimes shouldn’t be here in the first place. By failing to enforce immigration laws and deport dangerous individuals, our government allows these tragedies to occur. And when legislators like Becca Balint vote against measures like H.R. 7909, they are complicit in perpetuating this failure.

One life lost to preventable violence is one too many. Protecting citizens is the government’s number one job. On this vote, Becca Balint failed her constituents and the American people.

Call to Action

Vermonters deserve to know why their representative chose to prioritize non-citizens convicted of violent crimes over their safety. As part of this article, I reached out to Representative Balint’s office for comment but received no response. If elected officials won’t do their most basic job, it’s up to voters to hold them accountable. Representative Balint’s constituents should demand better.

Dave Soulia | FYIVT

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One response to “Balint Votes To Not Deport Violent Felons”

  1. […] to public safety measures, instead focusing on the concerns of illegal aliens and legal immigrants. She also voted against H.R. 7909, which sought to deport illegal aliens and legal immigrants convicted of violent […]

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