WASHINGTON ― The Senate on Monday passed a bill that would require the detention of migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, as well as grant power to states to challenge federal immigration policies ― a big win for newly sworn-in president Donald Trump.
The vote on the legislation was 64-35.The GOP-led House must next approve it before sending it to Trump’s desk for his signature.
Republicans made passing the bill, named the Laken Riley Act after a Georgia student who was killed last year by a Venezuelan man, a top priority.
“America issued a verdict on Nov. 5, they spoke loud and clear, so it is up to us to listen to the people and then take their call to action and put it into effect,” Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said Sunday on Fox News. “If you are here illegally and you commit a crime, you should absolutely be detained.”
Critics of the bill, however, noted it could lead to deportation of undocumented immigrants who are falsely accused of crimes since it does not require obtaining a conviction, including those brought to the U.S. as children. They also said that allowing state attorneys general to sue the federal government if they can show that their states are being harmed by a failure to implement national immigration policies would unleash chaos in the nation’s immigration system.
“What are we going to do? We’re going to detain 10-year-olds who steal a pack of gum?” asked Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
Monday’s bill passage would not be possible without the help of Senate Democrats, 12 of which joined Republicans in support of the measure. Trump won the 2024 election in large part due to the issues of immigration and crime, and Democrats have been scrambling to align themselves with public opinion.