WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Monday to pass a bill aimed at cracking down on immigration, the first piece of legislation that congressional Republicans hope to send to newly sworn-in President Donald Trump for signature.
The vote for final passage of the Laken Riley Act was 64-35, with 12 Democrats joining Republicans in approving it.
The bill, which was amended in the Senate last week, will be sent back to the Republican-led House for another vote, where it is expected to pass easily before being sent to Trump’s desk to become law. The House passed a version of the bill 264-159 earlier this month, with 48 Democrats voting in favor.
“It sends a message that we recognize Americans’ concerns about what happened at the southern border,” Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told NBC News. “And it’s a message that we’re going to clean up our own domestic laws and we’re going to make America safer.”
Democrats who voted yes were Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; John Fetterman, D-Pa. ; Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.; Maggie Hassan, DN.H. ; Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Jon Ossoff, Democrat of Georgia; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Jacky Rosen, Democrat from Nevada; Jeanne Shaheen, DN.H. ; Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; Mark Warner, D-Va., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.
While speaking at the Capitol on Monday after his inaugural address, Trump appeared to reference the Laken Riley Act, named after a Georgia nursing school student who was murdered last year by an undocumented immigrant, noting that she has considerable Democratic support.
“It’s going to be a very nice bill. We will sign, I would say, within a week or so,” Trump said.
The House plans to vote on the bill this week, a Republican leadership aide said Monday.
The measure, initially introduced in the Senate by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to take custody and detain undocumented immigrants who are charged, arrested or convicted of committed acts of “burglary, theft”. , theft or shoplifting.
The Senate approved two amendments to the legislation before final passage: one from Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, which adds assault of a law enforcement officer to detention-triggering offenses, and another from Sen. Joni Ernst of Texas, which adds assault of a law enforcement officer to the detention-triggering offenses, and another from Sen. Joni Ernst of Texas. , which extends this to acts causing death or bodily harm.
It also authorizes state attorneys general to sue the federal government for alleged failure to enforce immigration laws, “if the state or its residents suffer harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.” according to the text.
Critics say the bill would open the door to drastic changes to the system by removing due process for migrants accused — but not convicted — of crimes like shoplifting. They also warn that it would give state attorneys general the power to shape law enforcement.
Democrats tried to remove the provision empowering state prosecutors, but Republicans rejected it.
“We didn’t have the votes. That’s how democracy works,” Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, a supporter of the Laken Riley Act, said of the amendment. “Public safety is one of my main concerns. I represent a border state. And it’s the right thing to do.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., a co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act, acknowledged Monday that the legislation would not protect “Dreamers” — young people brought to the country as children — from mandatory detention if they were stopped or arrested for these. infractions.
“Not in this one, no,” Fetterman responded when asked if there was anything in the bill that protects minors and dreamers.
Fetterman also said, “That’s my goal. I wish I could protect the Dreamers.
