ADVERTISEMENTs
.png)
Democrats condemn passage of Laken Riley Act
The Laken Riley Act was passed by the Republican-majority House of Representatives with a vote of 263-156 and was subsequently
Rep. Jayapal and Ajay Bhutoria / Image- X
The U.S. House of Representatives' approval of the Laken Riley Act on Jan. 22 has drawn sharp reactions from democratic lawmakers and advocates, underscoring deep divisions over the immigration detention bill.
Named after a Georgia nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant in 2023, the legislation aims to detain undocumented individuals charged or convicted of nonviolent crimes, sparking widespread debate.
My statement on how I would have voted on three bills passed in the U.S. House of Representatives while I am in India mourning the passing of my father: pic.twitter.com/B8XiqwjnJ4
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 23, 2025
Representative Pramila Jayapal, currently in India mourning the loss of her father, issued a strong statement opposing the bill. “This legislation promotes racial profiling and strips due process from those falsely accused of minor crimes like theft,” Jayapal said. “It unfairly uses a tragedy to advance President Trump’s mass deportation agenda, undermining our criminal justice system and constitutional principles.”
Ajay Bhutoria, a leading Democrat and immigration reform advocate, expressed measured concern over the bill while calling for a broader dialogue. “The Laken Riley Act has initiated an important conversation about immigration enforcement, but we need comprehensive reforms that address real issues like the Green Card backlog, employment authorizations, and humane pathways for undocumented immigrants,” Bhutoria stated. “We must ensure this legislation doesn’t lead to racial profiling or erode civil liberties.”
The Laken Riley Act was passed by the Republican-majority House of Representatives with a vote of 263-156 and was subsequently sent to Trump for signing into law. 46 Democrats joined 217 Republicans to approve the bill. The Senate earlier this week did so with the help of 12 out of 47 Democrats and independents who caucus with them. Without those one-dozen votes the measure would have died in Congress for now.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.png)
.png)
 (2).jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.png)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login