WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Laken Riley Act, sponsored by U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., passed a crucial hurdle Thursday, advancing the legislation for debate.
The bill would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain and eventually deport undocumented immigrants who commit crimes such as burglary and shoplifting. It would also allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security if it fails to detain and deport undocumented immigrants deemed to have harmed its state’s residents.
The Senate voted 84-9 to move forward on the bill with significant bipartisan support. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., co-sponsored it along with the entire Senate Republican conference. It needed 60 votes to pass this step.
The legislation is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela while she was jogging last year.
“Let’s honor her legacy and advance a bipartisan bill that will help us save American lives,” Britt said on the Senate floor.
The Laken Riley Act is the first bill the Senate voted on during the 119th Congress, showing the GOP’s commitment to immigration reform.
Tuberville in a statement Thursday said “we must start delivering on our promises to ensure this never happens again.”
The legislation garnered bipartisan support. Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA, and Ruben Gallego, D-AZ, co-sponsored the bill. However, Democrats are expected to offer amendments on it.
“Democrats want to have a robust debate where we can offer amendments and improve this bill,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said on the floor.
Britt said Republicans are open to amendments, but are not interested in making the bill comprehensive.
“This is very targeted and so we want to keep in that realm,” Britt said.
The House passed the Laken Riley Act Tuesday, with Alabama’s House delegation voting unanimously to support the bill. The bill also got bipartisan support with 48 House Democrats voting for it.