Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, recently cited internal divisions within his party over immigration policies as a factor in November’s electoral defeat.
Newsweek has contacted Fetterman for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Immigration played a key role in November’s election. Donald Trump, who put the issue at the forefront of his campaign, went on to claim a decisive victory over his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris—securing 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226.
With the GOP set to control the House, Senate and White House in 2025, Democrats are reflecting on their losses as they work to win back voters.
What To Know
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-backed bill that seeks to curb illegal immigration by boosting border security and expanding detention powers for migrants accused of minor offenses.
Though Republicans control the Senate, they require the support of at least seven Democrats—in addition to Fetterman, who co-sponsored the bill—to secure the 60 votes needed to surpass a filibuster and advance the legislation.
In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Fetterman suggested that disagreements on issues such as immigration had hurt the Democratic Party‘s performance in November.
“There’s 47 of us in the Senate, and if we can’t pull up with seven votes, if we can’t get at least seven out of 47 … then that’s the reason why we lost. That’s one of them. That’s one of why we lost in part,” he said.
Several Senate Democrats have announced their intention to vote in favor of advancing the Laken Riley Act, boosting its likelihood of passing in the Senate.
Besides Fetterman, Democratic Senators Mark Kelly, Jacky Rosen, Ruben Gallego, Gary Peters, John Hickenlooper, Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen, Jon Ossoff and Elissa Slotkin have expressed their support for advancing the legislation.
Senator Richard Blumenthal also indicated he would likely back the bill’s advancement.
What Is the Laken Riley Act
The bill, named after a Georgia student who was killed by an undocumented immigrant, grants Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents the authority to arrest and deport undocumented individuals who commit violent crimes.
On February 22, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia, disappeared after going for a run. Her body was later discovered in a wooded area near the University of Georgia’s Athens campus.
In November, Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, was convicted of her murder.
The bill proposes two key changes to immigration law. First, it mandates that ICE detain non-U.S. nationals accused of theft, burglary, shoplifting or larceny irrespective of their immigration status.
The second key provision of the act empowers state attorneys general to file lawsuits against the secretary of Homeland Security if migrants covered by the act are not detained. According to the bill’s sponsors, this measure is intended to ensure enforcement of the first provision.
In the House, 48 Democrats supported the bill, which passed in the lower chamber with a vote of 264 to 159.
What People Are Saying
Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, said: “You know, I plan to support it. Because if you’re a criminal, you should be held accountable.”
Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat from Colorado, told Semafor about possible amendments to the bill: “We think it could be improved.”
Sarah H. Paoletti, a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania, told Newsweek: “Congress is moving to pass a law, the Laken Riley Act (passed the House, now pending in the Senate) that would mandate the apprehension and detention of any undocumented person convicted of minor offenses, such as shoplifting, and grants states the right to sue the federal government if such an individual ever commits another crime in their state—again, detention in and of itself—directly impacts an individual’s ability to pursue claims for relief.”
What Happens Next
After passing in the House, the legislation is now headed to the Senate for consideration. All 52 Senate Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill, which will likely face amendments by Senate Democrats before passing with bipartisan support.
At least 10 Senate Democrats are expected to support advancing the bill in the upper chamber, providing the 60 votes necessary to break a filibuster if all Republicans vote in favor.
The bill would then proceed to debate, followed by a final vote on passage, which would require only 51 votes to pass. It would then be sent to the president’s desk.
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