Fresh from President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Senate passed a bill on Monday that mandates federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes. This marks the first measure likely to be signed into law by Trump, further supporting his plans to deport millions of migrants. Trump, who has made a crackdown on illegal immigration a top priority, is finding support in Congress, where Republicans hold power and some Democrats are willing to cooperate. The bill, known as the Laken Riley Act, passed with a 64-35 vote, with 12 Democrats joining Republicans in favor.
Named after a Georgia nursing student tragically murdered by a Venezuelan man, the passage of the bill underscores Congress’s rightward shift on border security and immigration. The timing was significant as Trump signed the bill just moments after his first executive orders were issued. The bill now moves back to the House, where Republicans will need to approve changes made in the Senate. The Senate expanded the legislation to target immigrants who assault police officers or are accused of crimes resulting in death or serious injury.
As Trump dismantles many of former President Joe Biden’s border and immigration programs, the U.S. is moving away from the Democrats’ more compassionate immigration policies. With record numbers of people sometimes arriving at the border with Mexico, swift action on immigration policy in the new Congress demonstrates a shift in Democratic resistance to strict enforcement proposals.
There was bipartisan support for the bill, with Democrats like Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada emphasizing the importance of holding criminals accountable. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania highlighted the compatibility of a secure border with immigration support. Critics of the bill warn that it could lead to legal battles between Republican state attorneys general and federal immigration decisions, adding more uncertainty and partisanship to immigration policy.
The ability to deport millions of migrants or enforce the Laken Riley Act hinges on Congress’s allocation of approximately $100 billion proposed by Republicans for border security and immigration enforcement. Republicans are considering using budget reconciliation to pass the funding through Congress along party lines, a challenging task given their slim majority in the House and the pressure to balance budget priorities.
In a move to address mounting concerns over budget deficits and the far-reaching consequences of mass deportations, policymakers have made ambitious pledges to tackle these pressing issues head-on. The spotlight falls on the proposed Laken Riley Act, which currently lacks allocated funding but is projected to carry a hefty price tag of $83 billion over the next three years, as estimated by Democrats from the Appropriations Committee. This revelation, detailed in a memo obtained by The Associated Press, sheds light on the substantial resources that would be required for the Act’s implementation.
According to insights gleaned from the memo, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would face the daunting task of significantly expanding detention capacities and orchestrating over 80 removal flights per week to meet the Act’s stipulations. The exorbitant financial implications have prompted backlash from critics, who question the rationale behind allocating such a substantial sum to a measure that they argue would sow chaos, penalize law-abiding immigrants, and erode fundamental principles of due process. Speaking out against the perceived misallocation of resources, Washington Senator Patty Murray, a leading voice among Senate Democrats, voiced her concerns during a recent address on the Senate floor.
Moreover, apprehensions have been raised regarding the Act’s potential repercussions on individuals safeguarded under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an initiative established during the Obama era to shield young immigrants from deportation. While the Trump administration made attempts to dismantle DACA, there were intermittent indications of willingness to permit those under its protection to remain in the United States.
The discourse surrounding the Laken Riley Act underscores the intricate interplay between fiscal responsibility, immigration policy, and humanitarian considerations. As policymakers navigate these multifaceted challenges, the path forward remains uncertain, with divergent perspectives shaping the debate on how best to address the complexities at hand.
