WASHINGTON, D.C.—House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) made the following statement after voting in support of H.Res. 1071, Recognizing that allowing illegal immigrants the right to vote devalues the franchise and diminishes the voting power of United States citizens. Republicans overwhelmingly supported this resolution, while a majority of Democrats, by voting no or present, refused to reaffirm that voting rights are only for American citizens.
“The sanctity of our vote is one of the most prized and cherished American franchises, and that right to vote has been secured with the blood and lives of our brave men and women in the military. Voting in American elections is a right that should be reserved exclusively for American citizens. From local school boards, to members of Congress and Presidents, only citizens of our nation have the right to cast their votes and select our nation’s leaders at the ballot box.
“Incredibly, liberal Democrats in places like Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s hometown of San Francisco insist on assailing the rights of American citizens by allowing non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, to vote in American elections. Not only do these radical left-wing activists support open borders and eliminating critical law enforcement agents like Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), they are now actively working to undermine the power of each American’s vote.
“This radical attempt to undermine our democracy is wrong, dangerous and unconstitutional, and that is why each and every member of the House had the opportunity today to go on record opposing it. Despite an overwhelming majority of liberal Democrats voting against the rights of American citizens, I am happy that the House of Representatives today affirmed the simple fact that only American citizens should vote in American elections.”