Senate Democrats Change Course on an Immigration Bill

Washington: What a difference 10 months—and an election cycle—can make.

Recently, the Republican-controlled Senate voted overwhelmingly, 84-9, to push forward the Laken Riley Act. This immigration enforcement bill is named after a college student tragically killed last year by an undocumented immigrant. While the bill still needs some tweaks and a final vote, the support from the minority party shows a big shift from Senate Democrats.

It’s interesting to think about why this bill didn’t get debated when Democrats were in charge. The GOP had passed it in the House last March, with some Democrats even backing it then. But it just sat in the Senate without a vote. Now, with 48 Democrats on board, including some who previously opposed it, it seems like a change of heart.

One of the Democrats who switched sides, Rep. Ritchie Torres from New York, was pretty candid about the political landscape. He mentioned how his district swung heavily toward Trump, mainly due to immigration issues. He believes that while undocumented folks who haven’t committed crimes should be safe from deportation, those who do commit crimes should face consequences.

The immigrant who killed Riley had a prior shoplifting charge but was let go because it was just a misdemeanor. The new bill would require federal detention for undocumented immigrants arrested for crimes like theft or burglary. It also allows states to sue the federal government if they feel immigration laws aren’t being enforced.

After Riley’s murder, Republicans quickly used it to criticize President Biden’s border policies. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene even wore a shirt at the State of the Union that said “Say her name,” pushing Biden to address the issue.

Democrats are now trying to figure out how to respond after a tough election where Trump and the GOP capitalized on rising illegal border crossings. Some party members are suggesting a shift in messaging about immigration, and the strong Democratic support for this bill might indicate they’re starting to see things differently.

But not everyone is ready to admit that. Some senators were caught off guard when asked why the previous Congress didn’t take action on the bill. Sen. Gary Peters from Michigan, who’s up for reelection soon, simply said he didn’t know. Others, like Sen. Jacky Rosen, pointed the finger at former Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, saying it was his call to set the agenda.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal suggested that Schumer might have wanted to ensure the bill was solid before moving it forward, given the many competing issues at the end of the last session.

When asked if the recent vote signals a rightward shift for Democrats, Blumenthal emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform, touching on border security and pathways to citizenship for Dreamers. He hopes the Senate will tackle these issues soon since the current system is clearly broken.

Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania was more straightforward, calling the Democrats’ shift “a blinding flash of common sense.”

In a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer didn’t explain why the bill is only now getting attention but did call for discussions to improve it. He believes there’s enough bipartisan support to move forward.

Some amendments might tighten the criteria for federal detention, but many Democrats are backing the bill as it stands. Senators like Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly have shown their support, even if the bill doesn’t change much. Fetterman and Sen. Ruben Gallego are also on board.

It’ll be interesting to see if Republicans can gather the seven Democratic votes needed to pass the bill. The journey of the Laken Riley Act so far shows how the minority party is learning from the 2024 election.

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