The Senate voted to begin debate on the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-led bill focused on cracking down on illegal immigration that has garnered support from some Democrats. Many Democrats are open to amending the bill, indicating uncertainty about final passage. The bill aims to require ICE to detain people in the country illegally for theft-related crimes and allows states to sue the federal government for immigration enforcement failures. Some Democrats in competitive states or border communities have endorsed the bill. The legislation, named for a victim of a crime committed by an undocumented immigrant, passed the House with Democratic support. Democrats are considering amending the bill to narrow ICE detention triggers for undocumented individuals. Pro-immigration advocates are urging Democrats to remove a provision in the bill that allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government. Republicans plan to introduce more immigration bills to tackle border security concerns. The political landscape on immigration issues seems to be shifting, with Democrats willing to engage on tougher border laws and clarity on their stance against criminal activity. Democratic Senator Fetterman believes more Democrats are supporting the bill due to a “blinding flash of common sense.”
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Senate approves bipartisan vote to pass Laken Riley Act targeting illegal immigration
