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John Fetterman Leads as First Senate Democrat to Support Laken Riley Act, Aiming for 60 Votes

Jan 8, 2025, 04:20 PM

The Laken Riley Act, a Republican-led bill aimed at requiring federal authorities to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes, has garnered increasing support from Democratic senators. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) became the first Senate Democrat to sponsor the bill, emphasizing the need to prevent tragedies like the murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant. The legislation, which passed the House with support from 48 Democrats, is set for a Senate vote. Additional Democratic senators, including Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO), have also expressed their support, indicating a potential filibuster-proof majority with the necessary 60 votes. The bill also allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused by illegal immigration.