(The Lion) — As more Senate Democrats join Republicans in support of the Laken Riley Act, which passed the House this week, the measure to crack down on illegal immigration appears likely to be approved.
If passed, the law would require the detainment of illegal immigrants suspected of nonviolent crimes, including burglary, shoplifting and larceny.
The bill passed with bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, with 216 Republicans and 48 Democrats in favor.
Ahead of the Senate vote, several Democrats committed to joining the 52 Republicans to help the bill reach 60 votes, making it filibuster-proof.
They include: Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona; Mark Kelly, D-Arizona; John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia; Gary Peters, D-Michigan; Elissa Slotkin; D-Michigan, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada. Other Democrats will also likely support the bill, especially if it includes amendments they support, according to The Hill.
Gallego offered enthusiastic support for the bill.
“Arizonans know the real-life consequences of today’s border crisis,” Gallego said in a statement. “We must give law enforcement the means to take action when illegal immigrants break the law, to prevent situations like what occurred to Laken Riley. I will continue to fight for the safety of Arizonans by pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and increased border security.”
Fetterman also strongly supports the bill and said Democrats opposing legislation like this are why the party loses elections.
“There’s 47 of us in the Senate, and if we can’t pull up with seven votes if we can’t get at least seven out of 47 … then that’s the reason why we lost. That’s one of them. That’s one of why we lost in part,” he told Fox News.
A Kelly spokesman told The Hill that he “looks forward to working with Republicans and Democrats on it and other solutions to secure the border and fix our broken immigration system.”
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Rosen told The Hill that she wants to keep Nevadans safe.
“Senator Rosen will always support legislation to keep Nevadans safe. She believes if someone commits a crime, they should be held accountable,” the spokesman said.
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Georgia, introduced the bill last year in response to the murder of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who 26-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra murdered. Ibarra entered the country illegally in 2022 and was arrested and released in New York City in 2023 after being charged with child endangerment.
The bill also passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year but never came up for a vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
