WASHINGTON — Following the inauguration of President Trump, the Senate recently approved a significant bill mandating federal authorities to detain migrants accused of violent crimes and theft. This measure is poised to be the first legislation that Trump signs into law, reinforcing his ambitious agenda to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s administration has prioritized a stringent crackdown on illegal immigration, and with Republicans holding a majority in Congress, their willingness to collaborate has become evident. The bill passed with a vote of 64-35, garnering support from 12 Senate Democrats alongside the Republican majority.
The legislation, known as the Laken Riley Act, is named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by a Venezuelan man, an incident that significantly influenced Trump’s presidential campaign. Its passage marks a notable shift in Congressional attitudes toward immigration and border security that leans towards stricter enforcement. The bill’s approval came just moments before Trump was set to enact his first executive order after taking office.
“We don’t want criminals coming into our country,” Trump stated to supporters at the Capitol, expressing his eagerness to sign the bill within the upcoming week.
The bill will now return to the Republican-led House, which previously approved its version of the legislation earlier this month. However, the House will need to endorse the changes introduced by the Senate, which broadened the bill to include provisions for the detention of immigrants accused of assaulting police officers or those involved in serious crimes resulting in death or grievous injury.
In the meantime, Trump is taking swift action to dismantle many of the immigration policies established by former President Biden, effectively reversing the previous administration’s approach to more compassionate immigration practices amidst record levels of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. The rapid legislative changes indicate that there is a reduced resistance from Democrats towards strict immigration enforcement proposals.
“Anyone who commits a crime should be held accountable. That’s why I voted to pass the Laken Riley Act,” remarked Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., after the bill’s passage, while Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., noted that a secure border can coexist with support for immigration.
The legislation also successfully secured a crucial procedural vote in the Senate with backing from several Democrats. Earlier this month, similar proposals received the endorsement of 48 House Democrats.
“If you enter this country illegally and commit a crime, you should not be allowed to walk freely among us,” declared Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., one of the bill’s key proponents.
The Laken Riley Act seeks to ensure that federal authorities detain migrants accused of various offenses, such as shoplifting, while also affording states new legal avenues to challenge federal immigration rulings, which could introduce further partisan conflict and instability into immigration policy.
Critics argue that this legal provision is likely to empower Republican state attorneys general to confront federal immigration actions, which may lead to increased partisanship.
The feasibility of deporting millions of migrants or implementing the Laken Riley Act hinges on Congress’s ability to allocate approximately $100 billion proposed by Republicans for immigration enforcement and border security. They are currently deliberating how to pass this funding through a method known as budget reconciliation, enabling a purely partisan vote.
Navigating this in the House could prove challenging, as Republicans maintain a narrow majority. Additionally, they will have to address the competing demands of reducing budget deficits and considering the economic and humanitarian aspects of widespread deportations.
At present, the Laken Riley Act is not accompanied by any dedicated funding, although Democratic members of the Appropriations Committee project it could incur costs of around $83 billion over three years. According to discussions, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would need to nearly triple its detention capacity and conduct more than 80 removal flights weekly to meet the proposed mandates.
“This is a hefty price tag for a bill that threatens to create disorder, penalize lawful immigrants, and undermine the due process rights within the United States, diverting essential resources from actual threats,” voiced Senator Patty Murray, the senior Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Furthermore, Democrats have raised alarms regarding the implications for individuals benefiting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which offers deportation protections to eligible immigrants. While Trump sought to dismantle DACA during his initial term, he occasionally indicated a willingness to permit those in the program to remain in the U.S.
