The U.S. Senate has passed the Laken Riley Act, bringing President Donald Trump closer to signing a major piece of immigration-related legislation into law. This development marks the first significant bill passed by the GOP-controlled Senate in the new Congress, highlighting the ongoing political focus on immigration issues.
The legislation received bipartisan support, with a 64-35 vote that saw every Republican and 12 Democrats voting in favor. This underscores the heightened political emphasis on immigration as a key issue, particularly in the wake of its effectiveness for Republicans during the November elections.
The Laken Riley Act mandates the federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary, and certain violent crimes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) described the bill as a critical measure to protect public safety.
The bill is named after Laken Riley, a college student from Athens, Georgia, who was murdered nearly a year ago by a Venezuelan immigrant who had been released after an earlier shoplifting arrest.
The legislation faced notable opposition and debate among Senate Democrats. Critics raised concerns about provisions allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants upon arrest rather than conviction. They also highlighted the estimated $27 billion first-year implementation cost cited by the Department of Homeland Security, as well as expanded powers granted to state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials over detention decisions.
One Democratic amendment sought to remove the provision granting state attorneys general the authority to sue federal officials, but it failed to pass. The financial burden and logistical challenges of implementing the bill, especially given ICE’s limited resources, were central to the Democrats’ criticism.
Before reaching President Trump’s desk, the bill must be reconciled with a slightly different version passed earlier by the House of Representatives. The outcome of this process will determine whether the legislation becomes law, potentially marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy.
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