On Friday, 10 Senate Democrats voted to advance the Laken-Reilly Act, setting it up for a final vote in the Senate.
Democratic supporters include Sen. Ruben Gallego (Arizona), Sen. Mark Kelly (Arizona), Sen. Jon Ossoff (Georgia), Sen. Gary Peters (Michigan), and Sen. Jacky Rosen. (Nevada), Representative Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), and Senator Jeanne. Shaheen (New Hampshire), Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), Mark Warner (Virginia), Elissa Slotkin (Michigan). Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware) did not vote.
The bill would require federal detention of immigrants without legal status who are accused of crimes such as theft, robbery or assaulting a law enforcement officer. The case is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by an illegal Venezuelan immigrant and later convicted of murder in the case.
Although Fetterman did not vote Friday, he has been central to the Democratic Party's growing support and has advanced policies. His office did not immediately respond to inquiries about his vote.
Mr. Gallego and Mr. Kelly have also been outspoken about the impact of illegal immigration on the Sunshine State and have indicated they are prepared to work together to address the issue as soon as the Trump administration enters the White House. are.
Mr. Fetterman has made a number of bipartisan overtures during the transition from Mr. Biden to Mr. Trump, visiting President-elect Trump in Florida and receiving support from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). It's getting praise.
Fetterman defended his support for the Laken Riley Act in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.
“I don't know why anyone would think it's controversial that if you're in the country illegally and committing crimes or whatever, you all need to leave,” he said.
