In yet another reminder that common sense has left the building, 186 House Democrats recently voted against a bill that would make fraud a deportable offense for illegal aliens.

Even without Democratic support, the measure passed 231-186 on Wednesday, March 18, according to a Fox News report, and would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act so that illegal aliens who admit to or are convicted of fraudulently receiving public benefits could be sent packing. In plain English: if someone is in the country illegally and is ripping off taxpayers, they should be on the next flight out. And fast.

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) put it bluntly on the House floor: if an illegal alien commits public benefits fraud, “you are out of here on the next plane and can never return.”

Democrats are, of course, very worried about the due process rights of the illegal aliens. However, at some point, this stops being a policy disagreement and starts looking like a pattern: if there is a chance to protect illegal aliens over taxpayers, a whole lot of Democrats seem ready to punch that ticket every time.

Unfortunately, this legislation is most likely headed for the same graveyard as every other common-sense immigration bill that reaches the Senate. Unless Republicans decide protecting American taxpayers matters more than preserving the filibuster, the measure will likely stall out – while the people gaming and abusing the system keep cashing in.