WASHINGTON (TNND) — Congress is already taking steps to strengthen immigration legislation ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The Senate this week advanced the Laken Riley Act, a bill named after a Georgia nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant. A majority of Democrats joined Republicans in pushing the bill, but only nine voted against it, with some voting “yes.”
“This is an important issue that needs to be debated and revised,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said before voting to proceed.
Discussions on the proposed amendments are expected to continue next week. The bill allows for the detention and possible deportation of illegal immigrants accused of theft and gives states the power to sue the federal government for insufficient enforcement of immigration laws. This is the first immigration crackdown aimed at voting on Capitol Hill, but it is likely to spark presidential action.
As many as 100 first-day executive orders were discussed when President Trump met with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill this week, Axios reported. That includes reinstating Title 42, the coronavirus-era health policy that allowed immigrants to be expelled on public health grounds without the opportunity to apply for asylum. Administrative actions are also planned that will allow local law enforcement to work more closely with ICE officials, build more border walls, and bring in more immigrant detention facilities.
First, we will close the borders, it will be closed very strongly. This place will be shut down and criminals removed. We have people from prisons and psychiatric hospitals all over the world who are going to have to be released,” President Trump said Wednesday night.
Republicans also plan to reconsider the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote. “Only American citizens should be able to register and vote in American elections,” Sen. and bill sponsor Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote in X.
Republicans are adamant that their desire to crack down on immigration hastened the outcome of the 2024 election.
“The No. 1 issue I heard on the campaign trail was the border,” Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) said on Sinclair’s Connect to Congress this week.
Sen. John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania. He was the first Democrat to co-sponsor the Laken-Reilly Act and will now be the first Democrat to travel to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President Trump. A meeting is said to be scheduled for this weekend, and Fetterman encouraged his colleagues to be more open to the discussion.
