The Laken Riley Act took another step toward passage Monday night after clearing another hurdle in the Senate.
senator I voted The motion to proceed with the bill passed 82-10, allowing the chamber to begin considering the bill and amendments. 333 Democratic members of Congress voted to begin consideration of the bill.
The result was an important development but not a surprise, given that 33 Senate Democrats voted with Republicans on Thursday to clear a procedural hurdle that would allow for a vote on Monday. But the bill's increased momentum comes from the last Congress, when Democrats controlled the Senate and then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blocked the House-passed bill from being considered in the Senate. It's changed a lot since.
Democrats' willingness to consider the bill (a few members have even expressed support for the unrevised version) means Republican calls for stronger border security have electoral power. This is another sign that the Democratic Party is aware of this.
The Laken-Riley Act requires DHS to detain illegal aliens arrested, charged, or convicted of crimes such as robbery, theft, theft, and shoplifting. The bill, named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was brutally murdered in Georgia last year by an illegal alien released into the interior of the United States, passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Senate Democrats allowed the bill to be voted on at the cost of giving President-elect Donald Trump early legislative momentum on important issues, but the path and timing of the move are unclear.
Now that the Senate has begun considering the bill itself, Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) must decide how many, if any, amendments will be considered. Schumer continues to seek opportunities to amend the bill. Democrats' proposal includes minor amendments to the bill as well as broader immigration measures that go beyond the bill's existing individual approach.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who voted for passage of the bill, said: said Republicans introduced this bill on the grounds that “this is a 'gotcha' bill.”
“But Mr. Thune has proposed an amendment and said he wants to work on a bipartisan basis,” he added. “I hope he does.”
Democrats attacked the bill because of its cost and even called It is a “highway to mass deportation.” Biden administration said Implementing the bill would require the creation of more detention beds, which would cost $3.2 billion.
As of Monday, only 51 Republicans held seats in the Senate. Sen. Jim Justice (R-West Virginia) is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will also name his successor, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), in the coming days. It is believed that this will happen.
Bradley Jay is the deputy political editor at Breitbart News. please follow him X/Twitter and Instagram @BradleyAJaye.
