WASHINGTON (TNND) — Congress is already moving on tougher immigration bills ahead of Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.
The Senate advanced the Laken Riley Act this week, a bill named for a Georgia nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant. A huge chunk of Democrats joined Republicans to advance the bill, with only nine opposing and some voting “present.”
“This is an important issue we should have a debate and amendments,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ahead of his vote to support advancing it to debate.
The debate over amendments is expected to play out next week. The bill allows for the detainment and potential deportation of undocumented immigrants charged with theft and empowers states to sue the federal government over a perceived lack of enforcement of immigration laws. It’s the first immigration crackdown up for a vote on Capitol Hill, but presidential action is likely on the way.
Axios reports as many as 100 day one executive orders were discussed this week when Trump met with Senate Republicans at the Capitol. They include reinstating Title 42, a COVID-era health policy that allowed migrants to be expelled for public health reasons without getting a chance for asylum claims. There are also planned executive actions that would allow local law enforcement to work closer with ICE agents, build more border wall, and implement more migrant holding facilities.
Number one we’re closing the border, it’s going to be closed very strongly. It’s going to be closed, we’re going to take people out that are criminals. We have people from jails, all over the world, people from mental institutions and they’re going to have to be removed,” Trump said Wednesday night.
Republicans also plan to try again for the SAVE Act, a bill that requires proof of citizenship to vote. Senator and bill sponsor Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote on X “Only American citizens should be able to register and vote in American elections.”
Republicans are adamant the desire for an immigration crackdown fueled the 2024 election results.
“The number one issue I heard about when I was out on the campaign trail was the border,” Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, told Sinclair’s Connect to Congress this week.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. was the first Democrat to cosponsor the Laken Riley Act, and now he’s set to be the first Democrat to go to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump. The meeting is said to be planned for this weekend, and Fetterman encouraged his colleagues to be more open to discussions.