As the GOP Senate’s legislative measures face backlash over contentious immigration amendments, one wonders if the real agenda serves the public or political maneuvering.
At a Glance
- The Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of illegal immigrants charged with local crimes, has passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support.
- Critics like Rep. Greg Casar claim the bill is “fear-mongering” and has “nothing to do” with the tragic murder of Laken Riley.
- In a separate legislative battle, a GOP amendment to strip Medicaid funds from states that aid criminal illegal aliens failed in the Senate.
- Conservative critics are blasting the Senate for allowing the “unelected” parliamentarian to block the tough-on-crime Medicaid provision.
A Victory for Public Safety in Laken Riley’s Name
In a significant victory for public safety and immigration enforcement, the Laken Riley Act has passed both houses of Congress with bipartisan support. The bill, named for the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant, requires federal authorities to detain any undocumented immigrant who is charged with local crimes like burglary or theft.
The House approved the bill by a strong 263-156 vote, and it later cleared the Senate with the backing of 12 Democrats who crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans. The Act also empowers states to sue the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws.
Opponents Cry “Fear-Mongering”
Despite the bipartisan support, the bill was fiercely opposed by progressive Democrats. Critics claim the legislation is “fear-mongering” and could harm recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“It makes it so that immigrants, including dreamers… if they were accused of a crime like shoplifting, even if they didn’t do it, they and their families’ lives could be ruined by deportation,” U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) said, according to The Texas Tribune. He added, “Laken Riley’s killer was tried and convicted… the Laken Riley Act has nothing to do with her.”
Senate Fails to Defund Aid to Criminal Aliens
While the Laken Riley Act was a success, conservatives are expressing outrage over a separate failure in the U.S. Senate. During a recent debate on a major spending bill, an amendment was proposed to withdraw federal Medicaid funding from states that provide benefits to illegal immigrants facing violent crime charges.
The amendment failed on a 56-44 vote after the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, ruled that it violated the chamber’s complex budget rules. The decision to adhere to the guidance of an unelected staffer and kill a popular, common-sense measure has been blasted by conservative commentators. As detailed by The Blaze, critics are questioning the GOP Senate’s commitment to getting tough on illegal immigration, arguing that they failed to stop taxpayer dollars from flowing to criminal aliens.
