The Senate on Jan. 17 ended debate on legislation that requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft, burglary, or shoplifting.
That bill, the Laken Riley Act, also allows states to sue the federal government if it fails to enforce immigration policy.
It passed the House with bipartisan support on Jan. 7 and has now crossed another important procedural hurdle, with the Senate voting 61–35 to proceed to the question of its final passage. It will likely pass due to the upper chamber’s 53–47 GOP majority.
Its final passage is expected to have some support from at least a few Democrats; the bill was cosponsored by Sens. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)….