The opening of the new Congress ushers in the start of the Republicans regaining the majority in the U.S. Senate. Now, the first vote to take place has just happened on Thursday afternoon on the Laken Riley Act…and it’s gotten off with a massive bang in an early vote on the Laken Riley Act.
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Despite that Democrat opposition, the GOP got some surprising help from some of them:
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BREAKING: House Honors Laken Riley, Votes on Act Named After Her
The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly cleared a key procedural hurdle toward passing the Laken Riley Act, a bill aimed at curbing crime by migrants, in the first vote of the year by the chamber.
Senators cleared the first vote 84 to 9, with 33 Senate Democrats — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — joining with every Republican present to vote “yes.” The legislation would mandate federal detention of immigrants without legal status accused of theft, burglary and other related crimes.
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Ahead of the legislation’s passage, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) took to the Senate floor, telling his colleagues on both sides of the aisle:
“The Laken Riley Act presents the Senate a simple choice: Are you willing to allow illegal immigrant criminals to roam free in our country? Or do you want to save American lives?
“Protecting Americans from the dangers of a broken border makes sense to most of our citizens.”
The Hill report explained what happens next before it comes to a final vote in the upper chamber:
Thursday marked the first step in a string of votes before the bill could become law. Senate Republicans are expecting a number of amendment votes on the item next week.
The tally comes only two days after the House cleared the same measure with 48 Democrats voting in support.
As this is a breaking story, RedState will provide updates as they become available.