Senate approves Laken-Riley bill, sending immigration measure back to House

Washington — The Senate on Monday approved a bill called the Laken Riley Act that would expand the federal government's authority to detain illegal immigrants, as congressional Republicans hope to help President Trump when he takes office.

The Senate approved the bill in a 64-35 vote, with 12 Democrats joining all voting Republicans in voting in favor. The measure marks the first policy legislation of the new Congress, with the House approving the bill earlier this month and the Senate later amending it.

The House needs to approve the Senate changes before it goes to the president's desk.

Laken Riley Act, to 22 years old nursing student Mandatory detention for a man murdered last year by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant would be expanded to include noncitizens convicted of burglary, burglary, theft or shoplifting, as well as people who have admitted committing those crimes. The legislation would also authorize state attorneys general who claim their states or residents have been harmed by immigration policies to sue the federal government.

Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, called the bill a “targeted, common-sense, life-saving bill” ahead of Monday's vote and urged her colleagues to support it. measures.

“Today we go back to common sense, we go back to practicality,” Britt said on the Senate floor. “If you come here illegally and commit a crime, you shouldn't be free to roam the streets of this country. Our children deserve better.”

Although dozens of Senate Democrats support Earlier this month, many debated the measure while pushing for legislative amendments. The Senate approved two Republican-backed amendments that expand the legislation to include assaults on law enforcement officers and crimes resulting in “death or serious bodily harm to another person” from the scope of mandatory detention. But a Democratic-led amendment that would have pared back provisions giving state attorneys general powers failed to materialize. In the final procedural hurdle last week, 10 Democrats voted with Republicans.

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, said Monday the bill was not targeted enough, noting that the conditions for detaining immigrants accused of a “very broad range of crimes” did not take into account “their age, or more. What matters,” is whether they pose a threat to our community. ”

The legislation also raises questions about whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement can adequately carry out this new mission without more funding, as the agency is currently using about 39,000 of the 41,000 congressionally funded detention beds. indivual. Under current law, the Department of Homeland Security has the authority to detain noncitizens convicted of certain crimes, including “aggravated felonies” or serious crimes such as murder and sexual assault.

The House also passed the measure last year, but it stalled in the then-Democrat-controlled Senate. But Democrats appear more willing to weigh in on the measure after the election. Voters saw immigration as a key issue and gave Republicans a big win at the ballot box. Earlier this month, 48 House Democrats joined Republicans in approving the measure, up from 37 last year.

Republicans have made immigration a key platform in the 2024 election and touted plans to address border security through a new Republican trifecta, while Democrats have repeatedly cited the collapse of last year's bipartisan border deal at Trump's urging. .