Washington A bill that would mandate the expansion of mass detention for immigrants detained or charged with property offenses was approved by the U.S. Senate on Monday, the first day of Donald Trump’s administration.
Due to two modifications that senators agreed upon, 12 Democrats joined Republicans in voting 64-35 to return S. 5, also known as the Laken Riley Act, to the House for ultimate passage.
Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, proposed an amendment that would make assaulting a law enforcement official a crime that calls for mandatory incarceration.
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa proposed an additional amendment that would mandate mandatory detention for any offense that causes another person to die or suffer severe physical harm.
After running for president on a platform of mass deportations of immigrants without the required legal status, the measure is expected to be among the first bills signed into law by Trump once it passes the House.
Trump plans to implement his immigration crackdown at the southern border by signing ten executive orders.
The measure bears the name of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by a guy who, according to immigration officials, had previously been accused of theft and had entered the country illegally.
If passed into law, the legislation would give state attorneys general considerable power to challenge federal immigration policy in addition to significantly increasing the detention of immigrants caught or charged with crimes included in the measure.
Immigration lawyers and specialists have cautioned that the action may have far-reaching consequences, including the quick detention and deportation of certain migrants, especially minors.
Additionally, they contend that the plan will not just impact those without documentation, but also entangle some legal immigrants and might potentially impede international visa issuance.
