The Democrat party is in a pickle. They can’t believe what’s happened so suddenly.
As a U.S. Senator has set the Democrat Party HQ on fire with this surprise announcement.
A bill is making its way through Congress that is a major concern for Democrats and their Party at-large. It’s also making Joe Biden and his White House allies sweat. That bill is the one that is supposed to change the way the federal government handles criminals who are illegal immigrants. Known as the “Laken Riley Act,” the bill is designed to require any federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants rather than release them back into society.
Democratic Senators Rally Behind Laken Riley Act, Strengthening Efforts to Address Illegal Immigration
In a significant shift, a growing number of Democratic senators are backing legislation that mandates federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft and related crimes until they are deported. The bill, known as the Laken Riley Act, has gained widespread attention after it was named in memory of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant last year.
Several Democratic senators, including Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), and Jacky Rosen (Nev.), have recently expressed support for the bill, joining their colleagues John Fetterman (Pa.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), and Gary Peters (Mich.) in endorsing the proposed law.
In a tweet shared on Wednesday, Senator Slotkin emphasized her commitment to the legislation, despite acknowledging that no bill is perfect. “I plan to vote for the Laken Riley Act, just as I did last year in the House. Like many bills, this one isn’t perfect, and I’m hopeful there will be an amendment process,” Slotkin wrote. She further underscored the importance of securing the southern border and urged lawmakers to move beyond the partisanship that often hampers meaningful immigration reforms. “Michiganders have spoken loudly and clearly that they want action to secure our southern border. We must get past petty partisanship that continues to dominate the immigration debate,” she added.
Senator Gallego, a representative from Arizona, echoed similar sentiments, noting that his state’s direct experience with the crisis at the southern border informed his decision to cosponsor the Laken Riley Act. “Not only am I voting yes on the Laken Riley Act, I’m cosponsoring the bill. Arizonans know better than most the real consequences of today’s border crisis. We must give law enforcement the means to take action to prevent tragedies like what occurred to Laken Riley,” Gallego said in a statement.
In addition to the senators already backing the bill, others, including Jon Ossoff (D., Ga.), John Hickenlooper (D., Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D., Ill.), and Angus King (I., Maine), are expected to vote in favor of advancing the legislation. This support is crucial for meeting the 60-vote threshold required to overcome the filibuster, allowing the Senate to proceed with debate and amendments before a final vote.
The Laken Riley Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support earlier this week, now faces a procedural vote in the Senate. In the House, 48 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to pass the bill, a significant increase from the 37 Democrats who supported it when it was first introduced last year.
The support from Democratic senators is seen as particularly notable in light of the recent history of Democrats stone-walling any good bills proposed by Republicans. Many of the senators backing the bill represent swing states that were won by President-elect Donald Trump in the November elections, a victory attributed in part to widespread dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border.
Trump, who has made immigration a central theme of his political career, has promised to take aggressive steps to curb illegal immigration upon returning to office. His proposed actions include mass deportations and stringent measures to restrict the flow of illegal immigrants across the southern border. His stance on immigration was a key factor in his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
The Laken Riley Act has garnered strong support from Laken Riley’s family, including her mother and stepfather, who have been vocal in backing the bill. Riley’s tragic death at the hands of Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra spurred national outrage and intensified debates on the state of illegal immigration under President Joe Biden’s administration. Ibarra was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison in November after waiving his right to a jury trial.
The case drew significant media attention, especially after President Biden attempted to mention Riley’s name during his State of the Union address, only to mispronounce it. Biden’s comments, which included calling Ibarra an “illegal,” led to backlash from far-Left progressives, who criticized the President for his handling of the issue.
With both Republican and Democratic lawmakers now aligning behind the bill, there is growing hope that it could be an important step toward addressing the challenges posed by illegal immigration, securing the southern border, and preventing further tragedies like that of Laken Riley.
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