(FreePressBeacon.com) – In a surprising twist, Senate Democrats have joined forces with Republicans to advance a tough immigration detention bill, hinting at a potential shift in strategy towards collaboration with the Trump administration.
This long-overdue measure comes in response to the tragic murder of nursing student Laken Riley by an illegal Venezuelan alien.
The Senate voted 84-9 to advance the Laken Riley Act, named after the young woman whose life was cut short by a criminal who should never have been in the country.
This bill, a priority for Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump, mandates the detention of illegal aliens accused of specific crimes and allows states to sue the federal government for harm caused by them.
In a rare moment of clarity, Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer supported the bill’s advancement.
“This is an important issue. We should have a debate and amendments and that’s why I am voting yes on the motion to proceed,” Schumer stated.
The Democrats’ newfound willingness to cooperate on immigration enforcement is a stark departure from their obstructionist tactics during Trump’s first term.
It is clear that the reality of their new minority status in the Senate has forced them to reconsider their stance on border security.
“Nice to see that the results of the election in November have changed the thinking of some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle,” remarked Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), highlighting the Democrats’ sudden change of heart.
The Laken Riley Act proposes expanding mandatory detention to include noncitizens convicted or charged with burglary, larceny, theft, or shoplifting. This common-sense measure should have been implemented years ago.
While some moderate Democrats, like Senators John Fetterman, Ruben Gallego, and Elissa Slotkin, have supported the act, it is crucial to remember that this legislation was not even brought to a vote when Democrats held the Senate majority.
Furthermore, the House has already passed this critical legislation, making it a key action in the Republican-controlled Congress.
While some factors, like ICE’s current capacity constraint, pose challenges to enforcing these mandates, the willingness to address them reflects a growing consensus for stricter immigration enforcement.
This evolving cooperation could pave the way for effective policies, ensuring the safety and security of American communities.
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