These Democrats flipped their votes on the Laken Riley Act
Seven House Democrats flipped their votes to "yes" on a GOP-led bill named after the slain Georgia student Laken Riley that would require detention of migrants arrested for theft.
The Laken Riley Act became the first House bill passed this year, clearing the lower chamber in a 264-159 vote, with 48 Democrats joining all Republicans in support.
The legislation was originally passed in the House by Republicans and 37 Democrats in March but failed to pass the Democratic-led Senate.
Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) voted "yes" on Tuesday after voting "no" in March. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) previously did not vote on the matter but voted "yes" on Tuesday.
Eleven new Democratic votes came from freshmen legislators, while four who voted in favor of the bill in March are no longer in the House: Colin Allred (D-Texas), Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.), Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who was sworn into the Senate last week.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) originally voted yes on the legislation but on Tuesday he did not vote.
The bill requires detention of migrants, including those who have been permitted to seek asylum in the U.S., if they have been accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting. It was named after Riley, who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant who was arrested for shoplifting before the attack.
Notably, the newest text of the legislation did not include condemnations of President Biden, his actions after Riley's death and the Biden administration's immigration policies — a change that may have swayed some in the party.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a press conference after the vote that it was clear House Republicans are pushing an “anti-immigrant agenda.”
“There are serious flaws in this bill, it did not go through the normal judicial process,” Aguilar said in response to a question about the increase in Democratic support. “I voted against this because it opens a path for individuals through DACA who could be deported and that’s a concern to me.”
Topics
-
Gallego is latest Dem to back Laken Riley Act
Politico - 5h -
House passes Laken Riley Act as 1st bill of new GOP-controlled Congress
Unauthorized immigrants charged with nonviolent crimes could be be deported.ABC News - 18h -
Laken Riley Act gains steam — with Democrats
Some in the party's ranks are turning right alongside the electorate.Politico - 20h -
House passes Laken Riley Act in first bill of new Congress
The House approved its first policy legislation of the new Congress on Tuesday with a bill aimed at addressing illegal immigration.CBS News - 20h -
House passes Laken Riley Act to amp up border enforcement and put pressure on Democrats
The Republican-led House passed its first bill, the Laken Riley Act, a strict border measure named for the 22-year-old Georgia nursing school student who was murdered.NBC News - 23h -
Gallego goes all in on GOP's Laken Riley bill
Arizona’s newly minted Democratic senator has announced he is backing the Laken Riley Act, a bill advocates say would eliminate due process for immigrants living in the country illegally. As his ...The Hill - 2h -
House Passes ‘Laken Riley Act’ to Deport Unauthorized Immigrants Charged With Minor Crimes
Forty-eight Democrats joined Republicans in supporting legislation that aims to deport more migrants charged with nonviolent crimes, a first salvo in a broader crackdown.The New York Times - 19h -
House passes Laken Riley Act in first bill of new Congress
The House approved its first policy legislation of the new Congress on Tuesday with a bill aimed at addressing illegal immigration.CBS News - 20h
More from The Hill
-
Luigi Mangione visited Thai gun range before UHC CEO killing: Report
Mangione visited the gun range after taking a solo trip across Asia last year, according to two German tourists he met.The Hill - 22m -
Gingrich urges Trump, GOP to pass tax cuts in 'one big, beautiful bill'
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) encouraged President-elect Trump and Republicans to pass tax cuts as part of a single wide-ranging reconciliation bill, arguing that the GOP’s narrow House ...The Hill - 23m -
France says EU won't tolerate attack on borders after Trump Greenland takeover remarks
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot says the European Union (EU) will stand firm in its alliance in the face of repeated comments from President-elect Trump about the U.S. acquiring Greenland ...The Hill - 24m -
Can Americans end our abusive relationship with private health insurance?
What we mainly fear is that “breaking up” with the current private insurance model would be even worseThe Hill - 30m -
Israeli Army says it recovered body of hostage in Gaza
The Israeli Army on Wednesday said it had recovered the body from the Gaza Strip of an Israeli citizen who was kidnapped by Hamas during its terrorist attack on Oct. 7 and held hostage, and was ...The Hill - 36m
More in Politics
-
Jimmy Carter lies in state at the U.S. Capitol as Americans pay their respects
Former President Jimmy Carter is being remembered in six days of state funeral events.CBS News - 18m -
Luigi Mangione visited Thai gun range before UHC CEO killing: Report
Mangione visited the gun range after taking a solo trip across Asia last year, according to two German tourists he met.The Hill - 22m -
Gingrich urges Trump, GOP to pass tax cuts in 'one big, beautiful bill'
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) encouraged President-elect Trump and Republicans to pass tax cuts as part of a single wide-ranging reconciliation bill, arguing that the GOP’s narrow House ...The Hill - 23m -
France says EU won't tolerate attack on borders after Trump Greenland takeover remarks
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot says the European Union (EU) will stand firm in its alliance in the face of repeated comments from President-elect Trump about the U.S. acquiring Greenland ...The Hill - 24m -
Can Americans end our abusive relationship with private health insurance?
What we mainly fear is that “breaking up” with the current private insurance model would be even worseThe Hill - 30m