Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSROOM | Republican LeaderSkip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELL×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUFacebookTwitterInstagramFacebookTwitterInstagramVisit Senator McConnell's site here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board01.21.25Democrats in Disarray as the Senate Takes First Step to Address Biden Border CrisisDespite the Majority of Democrats Opposing the Commonsense and Bipartisan Laken Riley Act, Yesterday’s Passage Shows Senate Republicans Are Keeping Their Promise to Reverse the Biden Border Crisis “The Democratic caucus is generally speaking united on the issues, but this is one in which that's not the case. And that was reflected in the vote count.” – Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)“If we can’t secure the necessary changes, we must stand united and be prepared to reject the bill.” – Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)“For me it’s ... really common sense. And I’d like to remind everybody that we have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of migrants here illegally that have [been] convicted of crimes. Who wants to allow them to remain in our nation? And now if you’re here illegally and you’re committing crimes and those things, I don’t know why anybody thinks that it’s controversial that they all need to go.” – Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.)THE BIPARTISAN LAKEN RILEY ACT UNITED REPUBLICANS AND DIVIDED DEMOCRATS“The Senate voted Monday to pass an immigration crackdown bill, the first piece of legislation congressional Republicans are hoping to send newly sworn-in President Donald Trump for a signature.” (NBC News: Senate passes Laken Riley Act aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration – 1/20/25; S. 5: Roll Call Vote #7 – 1/20/25)51 Senate Republicans and two Senate Democrats cosponsored the Laken Riley Act, while 35 Senate Democrats voted against it. (119th Congress: S. 5 – Laken Riley Act – Introduced 1/6/25; S. 5: Roll Call Vote #7 – 1/20/25)“A number of Democrats voted for the bill only months after the party was decimated at the ballot box, with border security and immigration playing a key role as Republicans repeatedly panned Democrats for being too soft on those issues.” (The Hill: Senate advances Laken Riley Act, teeing up final vote – 1/17/25)“The action in both chambers offered a real-time glimpse of how Republicans have succeeded in using immigration to divide Democrats…” (The New York Times: Crackdown Bill Exposes Democratic Rift on Immigration as Trump Takes Power – 1/17/25)“Democratic support came largely from those who represent states Trump won in 2024…” (Axios: Laken Riley Act clears critical Senate hurdle – 1/17/25)The vote “also exposed a rift in the party: Some called it a common-sense measure while others argued it would undermine civil liberties and due process and could harm public safety.” (CNN: GOP-led immigration bill on verge of Senate passage after Democrats join with Republicans in key vote – 1/17/25)Last week, Senate Democrats had “a pretty intense discussion” about the bill, where Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) “was really wound up about the fact that [Democrats] had no plan that was coherent” on handling the legislation, a sentiment Bennet confirmed to The Hill. (The Hill: Republicans set to give Trump big immigration win — while dividing Democrats – 1/19/25)THE LAKEN RILEY ACT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES ONE OF AMERICANS’ TOP CONCERNS AND LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO START IMPLEMENTING HIS AGENDA“During the first 100 days of the new administration, a plurality of Americans would like Trump to prioritize immigration.” (Reuters/Ipsos: Americans accept the election results even if some are unhappy with the outcome – 11/8/24)“A vast majority of Americans — 87 percent — support deporting undocumented immigrants with a criminal record, which Mr. Trump has said would be one of the first orders of business he carries out.” (The New York Times: Support for Trump’s Policies Exceeds Support for Trump – 1/18/25)87% of voters said the situation at the southern border is either an emergency or a major problem. (Fox News: Fox News Poll: 87% consider situation at southern border a problem – 8/15/24)THE LAKEN RILEY ACT’S PASSAGE MARKS A KEY TURNING POINT IN ADDRESSING THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS“I am proud the Laken Riley Act will be the very first landmark bill President Trump signs into law, and it is proof that President Trump and the Republican Senate Majority stand ready to come turn promises made into promises kept. Together, we will secure our southern border, protect American families and communities, and return to law and order.” – Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.)“Passage of the Laken Riley Act is a victory for law and order and safety. What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen. I am proud to have led this legislation with Senators Britt, Fetterman, and Majority Leader Thune and look forward to President Trump signing it into law.” – Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.)Passage of the bill is “an early legislative win to Trump and congressional Republicans, who chose to bring up the measure as their first bill of the new Congress after winning the House, Senate and White House.” (CNN: GOP-led immigration bill on verge of Senate passage after Democrats join with Republicans in key vote – 1/17/25)The Senate adopted Sen. Joni Ernst’s amendment, Sarah’s Law, which includes requiring the detainment of illegal immigrants charged with crimes causing death or serious bodily injury. The amendment is named after Sarah Root, who was killed in 2016 in a car crash involving an illegal immigrant, who posted bond and fled the U.S. (The Hill: Senate passes Laken Riley Act in first move after Trump inauguration – 1/20/25; S.Amdt. 8 to S. 5: Roll Call Vote #6 – 1/20/25)The Senate also adopted Sen. John Cornyn’s amendment requiring ICE to detain illegal immigrants who assault a police officer. (Sen. Cornyn Press Release: VIDEO: Senate Passes Cornyn Amendment to Detain Illegal Migrants Who Assault Law Enforcement Officers – 1/16/25; S.Amdt. 14 to S.Amdt. 8 to S. 5: Roll Call Vote #3 – 1/15/25)PrintEmailTweetPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER McCONNELLFacebookTwitterInstagram
