Thune commits to amendment process for Laken Riley bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) committed to having an “amendment process” for the Laken Riley Act as the chamber continues to work through passing the bill in the coming days.

Thune’s comments come after the chamber twice voted overwhelmingly to advance the bill past procedural hurdles to kick off debate.

"We’re going to have an amendment process here on the floor – the type of amendment process that’s been lacking in recent years. We will push for votes on amendments that make this bill even stronger," he said.

"In the coming days, the Senate will have a serious debate about this and other amendments and about the Laken Riley Act. That’s the Senate’s role,” Thune added. “We'll have debate, and we'll aim to produce the strongest bill that we can pass into law. That's our goal."

The legislation would mandate federal detention of immigrants without legal status accused of theft, burglary and other related crimes.

The Republican leader also threw his support behind an amendment proposed by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), known as Sarah’s Law, that would expand the bill to include illegal migrants who are charged with crimes causing death or serious bodily injury.

The bill is named after Sarah Root, who was killed in a 2016 car crash that involved an illegal migrant, who proceeded to post bond and flee the U.S.

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