In an early test of how far right Democrats could move in the second Donald Trump administration, the Republican-led House reportedly passed a bill with bipartisan support that would worsen penalties for some illegal immigrants.
Named after a 22-year-old nursing student in Athens, Georgia, who was illegally murdered by a Venezuelan national in the United States, the Laken Riley Act mandates the Department of Homeland Security to detain certain individuals who are caught for larceny, theft, burglary, or shoplifting in the United States.
48 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill, which passed 264-159 in the first legislative vote in the new House.
Compared to last year, when Republicans introduced the same bill, 37 Democrats crossed the aisle.
The GOP-led Senate is now set to consider the issue shortly.
One of the main platforms of Trump’s three presidential campaigns has been immigration, and he has pledged to move quickly on it.
Following a spike in illegal crossings, polls indicated that people supported Republicans’ strong position on immigration and the border in the most recent election.
While a bipartisan border deal supported by President Biden faltered last year, Democrats hardened their stance on the subject ahead of the 2024 election.
Declaring a national emergency on immigration, which would enable the administration to redirect funds from the Pentagon for immigration purposes, is part of the new Trump border drive spearheaded by border czar Tom Homan.
A key component of the president-elect’s campaign was his pledged mass deportation program, but its feasibility is in jeopardy due to logistical and legal issues.
Although Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D., Mass.) stated in a statement that Jamie Raskin (D., Md.), the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, “strongly opposes” the bill, Democratic party leadership did not provide an official stance prior to Tuesday’s vote.
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