Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said Sunday that he is “no” to the Laken Riley Act “as currently written.”
“As currently written, I say no, because this means that people charged without conviction, including minors and Dreamers, shoplifting bubble gum, people who are simply charged without conviction, detained and deported.” Because it opens up the possibility that it will be used,” Padilla told NBC. News' Kristen Welker talks about “Meet the Press.”
Earlier this week, the Senate cleared a procedural hurdle to passing the Laken-Reilly Act, which aims to curb crime by immigrants. In Thursday's vote, 33 Senate Democrats joined Republicans in voting yes, 84-9.
The Laken Riley Act, named after a college student who was killed last February by a Venezuelan immigrant who had been arrested for shoplifting before the attack, is a law that allows legal authorities charged with theft, robbery, and other similar crimes to It would require federal detention of immigrants without status.
“The bill as written right now, number one, this is not immigration policy,” Padilla said during an appearance on “Meet the Press.” “Second, the law already says that people who commit violent crimes can and should be detained.”
On the floor before Thursday's vote, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said:[t]The Laken Riley Act presents the Senate with a simple choice: Do we allow criminal illegal immigrants to roam freely in our country? ”
“Or do you want to save American lives?” Barrasso said, adding, “Protecting Americans from the danger of a border collapse makes sense for most people.”
