Washington The first piece of legislation that legislative Republicans hope to deliver to newly minted President Donald Trump for his signature was passed by the Senate on Monday: an immigration crackdown package.
Twelve Democrats joined Republicans in approving the Laken Riley Act, which was ultimately passed 64-35.
Following last week’s Senate amendment, the bill will return to the Republican-controlled House for a second vote, where it is anticipated to pass with ease before reaching Trump’s desk to become law. Earlier this month, the House passed a version of the law 264-159, with 48 Democrats voting in favor of it.
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told NBC News, “It sends a message that we recognize the concerns that Americans have had out there with what has happened at the southern border.” Additionally, there is a message that we will improve the safety of America by cleaning up our own laws.
Senators were among the Democrats who cast yes votes. D-Nev. Catherine Cortez Masto; D-Pa. John Fetterman; D-Ariz. Ruben Gallego; D-N.H. Maggie Hassan; D-N.H. Mark Kelly; D-Ariz. Jon Ossoff; D-Mich. Gary Peters; D-Nev. Jacky Rosen; D-Nev. Jeanne Shaheen; D-N.H. Elissa Slotkin; D-Mich. Mark Warner; D-Va. and D-Ga. Raphael Warnock.
Speaking in the Capitol on Monday following his inauguration address, Trump seemed to mention the Laken Riley Act, which bears significant Democratic support and is named for a Georgia nursing school student who was killed by an undocumented immigrant last year.
It will be a really lovely bill. Trump stated, “I would say that we will have a signing within a week or so.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is required to detain and hold undocumented immigrants who are charged, arrested, or found guilty of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The proposal was first proposed in the Senate by Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala.
Prior to the legislation’s ultimate approval, the Senate adopted two amendments: one from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, which expanded the list of offenses that result in detention to include acts that cause death or bodily damage, and another from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, which included assault of a law enforcement officer to the list of offenses that trigger detention.
According to the text, it also gives state attorneys general the authority to bring legal action against the federal government for allegedly failing to enforce immigration rules if the state or its citizens suffer injury, including financial harm exceeding $100.
Opponents claim that by denying due process to immigrants who are charged with but not found guilty of offenses like stealing, the law will pave the way for significant systemic changes. Additionally, they caution that it would give state attorneys general more authority to influence enforcement.
Republicans defeated Democrats’ attempt to remove the clause giving state prosecutors more authority.
The votes were not with us. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who supported the Laken Riley Act, said of the amendment, “That’s how democracy works.” One of my main concerns is public safety. I speak for a state on the border. It’s also the proper course of action.
Co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., admitted Monday that the law would not protect “Dreamers”—young people who were brought to the nation as children—from mandatory incarceration in the event that they are caught for such offenses.
When asked if the measure included any provisions protecting Dreamers and minors, Fetterman responded, “Not in this one, no.”
That’s my aim, Fetterman added. Protecting the Dreamers is something I would like to be able to do.