In a significant move reflecting the Republican Party’s tough stance on illegal immigration and support for law enforcement, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives recently passed a measure that would require the federal government to deport any illegal immigrant who assaults a police officer. The legislation, titled the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act, was introduced by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Republican from New Jersey. The bill passed with a vote of 265 to 148, demonstrating some bipartisan support, as 54 Democrats crossed party lines to vote in favor of the measure, even though the majority of their caucus opposed it.
The central tenet of the legislation is straightforward and uncompromising: any illegal immigrant who is found to have assaulted a law enforcement officer would be mandatorily detained and held in federal custody until deportation proceedings are completed. Additionally, the bill creates a new category of inadmissibility under immigration law — specifically targeting illegal immigrants accused of such assaults, ensuring they are barred from future re-entry into the United States.
Rep. Van Drew strongly defended the bill’s premise, arguing that individuals who are in the country illegally and show violent disregard for law enforcement should have no place in American society. “There is absolutely no reason why someone who has illegally entered our country and then goes on to attack our law enforcement officers should be allowed to stay,” Van Drew said in a statement. “That kind of behavior demonstrates a complete lack of respect for our laws, our institutions, and our values. These individuals will not be positive contributors to our society, and this bill ensures they are removed from our communities.”
Following the bill’s passage, Republican leaders in the House doubled down on their messaging, framing the vote as a clear-cut example of the ideological divide between the two parties when it comes to immigration enforcement and support for law enforcement. Rep. Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip and the third-ranking Republican, criticized Democrats who voted against the bill, stating, “House Democrats just voted to protect violent, illegal immigrants over our brave law enforcement officers. Once again, the Democrat Party proves they are the most anti-law enforcement party in history.”
This latest legislative move comes at a time when polling data shows Republicans gaining significant ground over Democrats, particularly on economic issues — a traditionally dominant area for the GOP, but one where Democrats had made gains in recent years. In a recent CNN poll, Republicans were shown to have a substantial lead over Democrats on which party Americans trust more to handle the economy. The network’s data analyst, Harry Enten, expressed surprise at the polling results, which he described as “stunning.”
“You would think that after all the public fear around Trump’s proposed tariffs, after months of warnings from Democrats and their allies in the media about economic risks, that the Democratic Party would hold a commanding lead on the economy,” Enten said during an interview with CNN anchor Kate Bolduan. “But that’s just not what the data shows.”
According to Enten, Republicans enjoyed an 11-point lead on the issue of the economy as of November 2023. Despite turbulent economic conditions, stock market fluctuations, and ongoing tariff debates that Democrats hoped would swing public opinion, that lead has barely shifted — Republicans still hold a robust 8-point advantage, based on CNN’s latest data.
“How is that possible?” Enten asked, visibly bewildered. “After all the talk of recession fears, after everything the media and Democrats have thrown at Trump’s economic policies, Republicans are still seen as the party with the stronger economic vision? It’s remarkable.”
Bolduan then pressed Enten on whether these numbers were consistent across other polling sources, to which he replied, “Yes, it’s not just CNN’s poll. Look at Reuters/Ipsos — in May 2024, right before Donald Trump was re-elected president, Republicans were leading by nine points on the question of who has the better economic plan. Fast forward to May 2025, and that lead has grown to 12 points. This is despite months of supposed economic uncertainty, trade wars, and other factors that, theoretically, should have helped the Democrats make up ground.”
Enten concluded by saying this trend highlights a major vulnerability for the Democratic Party — a growing perception that they are out of step with the concerns of working-class and middle-class Americans, especially on pocketbook issues. He pointed out that even though former President Trump’s overall approval ratings are not as high as during previous cycles, the Republican Party continues to maintain a strategic advantage because voters still see them as better equipped to handle the economy — arguably the most important issue heading into the 2026 midterms and beyond.
He added that this advantage is not just theoretical. “Republicans have made significant inroads with the middle class. That voting bloc, which used to be more evenly split or even lean Democrat, is now leaning Republican — and not just by a little. That’s a huge warning sign for the Democratic Party going forward.”
