WASHINGTON – The majority of Senate Democrats joined Republicans on Thursday to advance the Laken Riley Act, a bill that would require the federal government to detain immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission who are suspected of crimes, even if not charged.
Thirty-two Democrats joined all 51 voting Republicans and one independent vote to move forward with the legislation named after a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant previously arrested for shoplifting.
Eight Democrats and one independent opposed advancing the bill, including Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii and Andy Kim, D-N.J. The final vote tally was 84-9.
“This is an important issue. We should have a debate and amendments,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a floor speech before he voted to advance the bill. “To remind my colleagues, this is not a vote on the bill itself.”
People hold signs with a photo of Laken Riley, a former nursing student at Augusta University in Athens who was killed by an illegal immigrant, during a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump at the Forum River Center in Rome, Georgia on March 9, 2024.
The bill passed the House on Tuesday, with 48 Democrats joining the Republican majority. It would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport undocumented immigrants who commit theft, burglary, shoplifting or larceny, among other provisions.
Senate Democrats who opposed advancing the bill told USA TODAY they think the legislation would take immigration reform too far.
“I think there’s plenty of appetite for immigration policies that secure the border and to make sure there’s not disorder in our communities,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. “But this bill is just not very well crafted, and I think we could do a bipartisan bill, but this is a talking point turned into a legislative action.”
Hirono agreed, saying that there needs to be “comprehensive” immigration reform that gives undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship.
But Senate Democrats who chose to advance the bill said it gives them a chance to push back on certain provisions or add amendments before it goes to a final vote.
People hold campaign signs with a photo of Laken Riley, a former nursing student at Augusta University in Athens who was killed by an illegal immigrant, during the rally in the Forum River Center, in Rome, Georgia on March 9, 2024.
“I think this is an important conversation,” said Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. “It’s a serious one, so it ought to be taken seriously, and I have moved procedurally to advance the legislation with the hope that we can have a serious conversation.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he’d like to see an amendment in the legislation that requires conviction of a crime, and he’d like to make sure children are protected from deportation if they’re arrested for shoplifting.
The bill has received mixed views from supporters and critics, with the former arguing that it would make communities safer and the latter expressing concerns that it could threaten civil liberties.
The American Civil Liberties Union argued in a letter to Congress on Monday that the legislation would “accelerate the vilification of non-citizens, including long-time residents.”
“The death of Ms. Laken Riley is an unimaginable tragedy, but this bill will not make our communities safer,” the group wrote.
Thursday’s vote does not necessarily mean the controversial bill will have enough votes to pass, and Democrats are expected to propose a wide range of immigration reforms.
But Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who co-sponsored the act, said in response to concerns from critics that he never suggested it was never a perfect bill.
“But I think it’s an appropriate one, and I think it’s a necessary one,” he said.
Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Laken Riley Act clears Senate hurdle with help from Democrats
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