WASHINGTON, DC (Michigan News Source) – With Trump-endorsed Republican Mike Johnson from Louisiana retaining the Speaker’s gavel after the Friday vote on January 3rd, members of Congress have been sworn in and are officially back to work.

Republicans are now poised to control Congress with what will be a razor-thin 217-215 majority. This count excludes former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who did not return to Congress, as well as two other representatives transitioning to roles in the Trump Administration.

Michigan Democrats back in Congress, but not backing deportation for sex offenders.

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Four of the 215 Democratic Representatives – Michigan’s Debbie Dingell, Haley Stevens, Rashida Tlaib, and Shri Thanedar – returned to Congress after winning re-election, despite all four voting against the deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes.

The Nancy Mace-sponsored “Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act” which was voted on less than four months ago sought to remove rapists, pedophiles, domestic abusers, stalkers and other predators from U.S. soil. But these four Michigan Democratic Reps, along with 154 others at the time, decided the legislation was a step too far for them to vote for as we reported back in September.

Back in power after defending the indefensible.

Despite this jaw-dropping vote, these Michigan Democrats are back in Congress, ready to legislate again. All House Republicans (and 51 Democrats) overwhelmingly supported the bill at the time, arguing it was a commonsense move to protect public safety. The opposition’s counterargument essentially boiled down to feelings over facts, framing the bill as anti-immigrant instead of anti- criminal. This argument was considered a bold stance by many when considering that the criminals in question are preying on women and children.

Regardless of the positions of these four Michigan Democratic Representatives, the incoming Trump administration has prioritized the deportation of criminal illegal immigrants as a key policy focus. This commitment was reinforced by Speaker Mike Johnson, who echoed support for this initiative in his acceptance speech as Speaker, emphasizing its significance to the administration’s agenda.

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) recently posted on X to ask, “Would you ever vote to re-elect a member of Congress who voted *against* the @NancyMace bill to deport undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of sex crimes?”

This led billionaire and DOGE advocate Elon Musk to weigh in over the weekend, urging Americans to vote out every politician who opposed the legislation.

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In Michigan, the answer to Lee’s question – whether Americans would re-elect politicians who oppose deporting illegal immigrant sex offenders – was a resounding “yes” for four Democratic Representatives who chose to put their ideological agendas ahead of public safety – and their voters stood by them.