With the opening of the modern Congress, the Republicans will begin regaining their majority in the US Senate. The first vote on the Laken Riley Act just took place Thursday afternoon…and it started off with a huge bang in an early vote on the Laken Riley Act.
BREAKING: Nine Democrats just voted against passing the Laken-Riley Act, which would require law enforcement to arrest illegals who commit theft crimes.
Corey Booker
Little Hirono
Andy Kim
Elizabeth Warren
Ed Markey
Jeff Merkley
Bernie Sanders
Tina Smith
Brian SchatzWhy… pic.twitter.com/HDWHMAyFIG
– Libs from TikTok (@libsoftikt) January 9, 2025
The Senate just voted 84-9 to bring to a final vote the Laken Riley Act, which would require the government to arrest illegal aliens convicted of theft crimes.
Here are the nine Democrats who voted no. pic.twitter.com/dhb7oUfNw1
– Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 9, 2025
Despite Democratic opposition, the GOP received surprising lend a hand from some of them:
#BREAKING Thirty-three Senate Democrats support Senate passage of the Laken-Riley Act as Republicans move forward with a bill to stop illegal aliens, arrest them and deport them for theft, the gateway to major crimes. The Trump agenda is already moving forward, lawmakers and…
– Elizabeth MacDonald (@LizMacDonaldFOX) January 9, 2025
Read on the topic:
BREAKING: House Honors Laken Riley, votes on bill named after her
Fetterman just put a stop to Democrats’ plans to stop the Laken Riley Act from making its way to Trump’s desk
via The Hill:
The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly cleared a key procedural hurdle to passage of the Laken Riley Act, a law aimed at curbing migrant crime, in the first chamber vote of the year.
Senators completed the first vote 84-9, with 33 Senate Democrats – including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) – joining all Republicans present in voting “yes.” The legislation would require federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary and other related crimes.
Before the bill’s passage, Senate Majority Leader John Barrasso (R-WY) took to the Senate floor and told his colleagues on both sides of the aisle:
“The Laken-Riley Act presents the Senate with a simple choice: Are you willing to allow illegal immigrants to move freely 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 a final vote in the upper house:
Thursday was the first step in a series of votes before the bill could become law. Senate Republicans expect a series of amendment votes on the issue next week.
The tally comes just two days after the House approved the same measure, with 48 Democrats voting for it.
As this is a breaking news story, RedState will provide updates as they become available.
