Senate passes Laken Riley Act in first move after Trump inauguration

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

The Senate on Monday passed the Laken Riley Act, making the immigration-related bill the first piece of legislation to make it through the upper chamber in the new Congress and putting it a step closer to being signed into law by President Trump.

Senators voted 64-35 on the bill. Twelve Democrats voted with every Republican.


The legislation — which mandates the federal detention of immigrants without legal status who are accused of theft and burglary, among other things — was a priority for Republicans after immigration emerged as a signature issue for Trump and an effective cudgel against Democrats in November.

“This legislation will ensure that illegal aliens who steal or assault a law enforcement officer are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement instead of being allowed out on the streets,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on the floor ahead of the vote. “I’m looking forward to getting this legislation to the president’s desk.”

Democrats who voted in the affirmative included Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Mark Warner (Va.).

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5095996-senate-passes-laken-riley-act/

[LearnedHand]

1. WTAF "dems"?

If YOU won't fucking resist that agenda, why are we supporting your campaign again?

[SouthBayDem]

11. "If liberals don't enforce borders, fascists will."

Warned by The Atlantic in 2019.

[LearnedHand]

12. This law isn't about enforcing borders

It's about rounding up and putting in concentration camps undocumented people who MIGHT have committed a crime. There are already laws for people who commit crimes and there are already processes for undocumented people who committed crimes.

And FFS the dems ARE enforcing the border. I invite you to not buy into the RW bullshit framing of the "issue."

[kelly1mm]

2. Bipartisan immigration legislation in action! I guess this is the lesson learned by Democrats from November. nt

[Frank D. Lincoln]

3. No surprise whatsoever.

I saw this coming from a mile away.

[alarimer]

4. Those Democrats are traitors

Neville Chamberlain would like a word.

Fucking cowards more interesting in saving their own careers.

[live love laugh]

5. Surprised at Kelly, ossoff and warnock

[Phoenix61]

6. Me too. WTAF!!! nt

[Jose Garcia]

7. They both represent a state that Trump won.

Additionally, Ossoff is up for reelection next year.

[inwiththenew]

8. Ossoff is going to have a tough reelection campaign

He's probably going to trend towards the center to try and keep his seat.

[Polybius]

10. Kelly supports this because he's in a border state

Ossoff faces a super-tough reelection in 2026.

[Jose Garcia]

14. A border state which Trump won

[LearnedHand]

13. Stunned, actually

WTAF indeed

[Tanuki]

19. Laken Riley was from Georgia and was murdered on the U. of GA campus.

Since it would have been numerically impossible to defeat the bill even with 100% Democratic unity, and since a "no" vote would have guaranteed their defeat in the next election, I can understand their choice.

[Polybius]

9. A lot of those Democrats who voted Yes are either in border states or swing states

Not sure why the NH Democrats voted that way, unless they really believe it's a good bill.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

15. Immigration and border control are topics that can cut across party lines.

It is not my issue, but I know loyal Dems that feel the boarder is too open and that those that cross the border outside of legal means are a problem. And there are repubs that recognize the importance of immigrants to our economy, regardless of their legal status.

It may be that those that voted for the bill fall into this category or have a large number of constituents that do.

No sure that is the case, but it might be.

[DeepWinter]

17. I know plenty of Democrats

that are not OK with the border situation and want it tightened up and enforced much better. Seriously addressing this issue will go a long ways. That there are even Democrats that don't see this as a problem, dismissive even, is mind boggling.

[Retrograde]

18. Both my border state senators voted no

as did the two senators from New York - haven’t checked Washington yet

[Miguelito Loveless]

16. The Vichy Dems

strike again.