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Senate passes Britt’s immigration bill with bipartisan support 

WASHINGTON, D.C – The Laken Riley Act, which aims to crack down on illegal immigration, passed the Senate Monday as President Donald Trump entered office. 

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala, sponsored the legislation and helped push it to Senate passage by garnering support from both sides of the aisle. The bill passed 64-35, with 12 Democrats voting for the bill.  

The Laken Riley Act will require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants who commit crimes such as theft or burglary. The Senate amended the bill twice adding two criminal offenses that will require detention for undocumented immigrants: Assault of a law enforcement officer and crimes resulting in bodily injury or death. 

The bill will also allow states to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for violating immigration law. 

The legislation is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed last year by a Venezuelan man. 

“The Laken Riley Act is a targeted, common-sense, life-saving bill,” Britt said on the Senate floor before the vote. 

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told Alabama Daily News it was “awesome” to see the Senate pass the legislation. 

Britt also said in a statement after the vote that she was “proud the Laken Riley Act will be the very first landmark bill President Trump signs into law.” 

The bill is estimated to cost $83 billion over the next three years, according to a memo obtained by the Associated Press.

The legislation shows the GOP’s commitment to focusing on immigration and border security under the new Trump administration. 

Since the legislation was amended it will now go back to the House, which is expected to vote on it later this week. The Laken Riley Act passed the House earlier this month with bipartisan support. If it passes the House, it will be sent to Trump’s desk.

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