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Polybius

(18,719 posts) Tue Jan 7, 2025, 08:13 PM Jan 7

Fetterman cosponsors GOP-led Laken Riley bill, one of the few Democrats backing it

Source: he Philadelphia Inquirer

Sen. John Fetterman is the lone Senate Democrat cosponsoring a Republican-led bill that would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes.

The bill, passed with bipartisan support in the House on Tuesday, is slated to come up for a Senate vote on Friday. In addition to requiring federal detention of undocumented immigrants who commit theft, it would allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused to their citizens because of illegal immigration, greatly expanding the authority of state attorneys general.

Lawmakers named the legislation after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was murdered while jogging at the University of Georgia. Her convicted killer, Jose Ibarra, had entered the U.S. illegally and had previously been released after an arrest for stealing merchandise from a Walmart store. He was sentenced to life without parole in November.

“Laken Riley’s story is a tragic reminder of what’s at stake when our systems fail to protect people,” Fetterman said in a joint news release sent by the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Katie Britt (R., Ala.). “No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to preventable violence,” the Pennsylvania Democrat continued. “Immigration is what makes our country great. I support giving authorities the tools to prevent tragedies like this one while we work on comprehensive solutions to our broken system.”

Read more: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/john-fetterman-laken-riley-bill-immigration-20250107.html

34 replies

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Highlight:

Fetterman cosponsors GOP-led Laken Riley bill, one of the few Democrats backing it (Original Post) Polybius Jan 7 OP

fetterman has turned out to be a great choice. Groundhawg Jan 7 #1

WTF happened to him? He used to be a solid lefty LymphocyteLover Jan 8 #11

He's a populist, and the immigration issue is very unpopular now. yardwork Jan 8 #23

Yeah, I was wondering if he was bowing to PA going MAGA or what LymphocyteLover Jan 8 #32

More like dodging and weaving, I guess. yardwork Jan 8 #34

laken riley's killer , before he killed her, was allowed to stay in america under trump's d.e.d program which he signed Fullduplexxx Jan 7 #2

yes, he was to blame LymphocyteLover Jan 8 #10

What about banning assault weapons...they kill a lot more people than immigrants JT45242 Jan 7 #3

Where did you get that statistic? Unladen Swallow Jan 7 #4

Homicide rate Miguelito Loveless Jan 7 #6

This is Texas only? Unladen Swallow Jan 8 #9

come on dude LymphocyteLover Jan 8 #13

I would appreciate proper statistics Unladen Swallow Jan 8 #14

Unlikely. The gunners always show up in this thread to defend their ridiculous travelingthrulife Jan 8 #18

Lol yardwork Jan 8 #21

Lol. Protect and defend the 'precious' travelingthrulife Jan 8 #17

As assault weapons Miguelito Loveless Jan 8 #33

'Republican-led bill that would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants arrested elleng Jan 7 #5

this motherfucker is probably going to vote to confirm all of trump's nominees. ZonkerHarris Jan 8 #7

Fetterman is clearly not a well man. (nt) Paladin Jan 8 #8

Or they have something on him johnnyfins Jan 8 #15

Nah, this is Fetterman being Fetterman. yardwork Jan 8 #22

on strictly practical terms, this sounds like a terrible bill, but of course it will become law LymphocyteLover Jan 8 #12

Maybe the new Kyrsten Sinema or joe manchin? take your pick nt yaesu Jan 8 #16

From this day forward, he will forever be known as... Omnipresent Jan 8 #27

Sad, but seems like we Democrats will always be cursed with that bluestarone Jan 8 #19

This is will be unpopular opinion but jgmiller Jan 8 #20

"would allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security" HereForTheParty Jan 8 #24

Few? 48 Democrats in the House voted for it Jose Garcia Jan 8 #25

It actually sounds like a sensible bill FakeNoose Jan 8 #29

I think the headline was referring to the Senate Polybius Jan 8 #30

Gallego announced he was voting for it. That's 4 and counting awesomerwb1 Jan 8 #26

Reforming immigration is popular with Dems Abnredleg Jan 8 #28

This won't reform anything. Elessar Zappa Jan 8 #31

Groundhawg

(1,050 posts)

1. fetterman has turned out to be a great choice.

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Tue Jan 7, 2025, 08:20 PM

Jan 7

LymphocyteLover

(7,073 posts)

11. WTF happened to him? He used to be a solid lefty

Reply to Groundhawg (Reply #1)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 07:38 AM

Jan 8

yardwork

(64,967 posts)

23. He's a populist, and the immigration issue is very unpopular now.

Reply to LymphocyteLover (Reply #11)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:43 AM

Jan 8

Fetterman is doing what he thinks his constituents want.

LymphocyteLover

(7,073 posts)

32. Yeah, I was wondering if he was bowing to PA going MAGA or what

Reply to yardwork (Reply #23)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 04:15 PM

Jan 8

yardwork

(64,967 posts)

34. More like dodging and weaving, I guess.

Reply to LymphocyteLover (Reply #32)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 04:37 PM

Jan 8

Fetterman is really unique in politics. Sort of in the John McCain model.

Fullduplexxx

(8,391 posts)

2. laken riley's killer , before he killed her, was allowed to stay in america under trump's d.e.d program which he signed

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Tue Jan 7, 2025, 08:20 PM

Jan 7

shortly before leaving office

In a Saturday post on X, A.J. Delgado, a former Trump 2016 campaign aide, shared how based off the reported timing of when Ibarra crossed into the U.S., the blame is to be put on Trump.

https://www.newsweek.com/ex-trump-aide-casts-blame-donald-trump-laken-riley-death-1873437

LymphocyteLover

(7,073 posts)

10. yes, he was to blame

Reply to Fullduplexxx (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 07:37 AM

Jan 8

not to mention the special carve out Trump made for asylum for Venezuelan immigrants that led to huge numbers of migrants from there under Biden

JT45242

(3,025 posts)

3. What about banning assault weapons...they kill a lot more people than immigrants

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Tue Jan 7, 2025, 08:32 PM

Jan 7

The Idiocracy is in full swing... already

Unladen Swallow

(491 posts)

4. Where did you get that statistic?

Reply to JT45242 (Reply #3)

Tue Jan 7, 2025, 08:43 PM

Jan 7

Miguelito Loveless

(4,738 posts)

6. Homicide rate

Reply to Unladen Swallow (Reply #4)

Tue Jan 7, 2025, 10:04 PM

Jan 7

for people killed by immigrants in Texas 0.51 per 100K
Firearms death in Texas 15.1 per 100K

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/have-undocumented-killed-63000-us-9-11/

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-from-gun-related-injuries-in-the-us-each-month/state/texas/

Unladen Swallow

(491 posts)

9. This is Texas only?

Reply to Miguelito Loveless (Reply #6)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 07:15 AM

Jan 8

And no mention of assault weapons, just guns in general?

LymphocyteLover

(7,073 posts)

13. come on dude

Reply to Unladen Swallow (Reply #9)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 07:41 AM

Jan 8

Unladen Swallow

(491 posts)

14. I would appreciate proper statistics

Reply to LymphocyteLover (Reply #13)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 08:15 AM

Jan 8

so when and if I share this information, and am invariably questioned about it, I have a leg to stand on.

travelingthrulife

(1,148 posts)

18. Unlikely. The gunners always show up in this thread to defend their ridiculous

Reply to Unladen Swallow (Reply #14)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:15 AM

Jan 8

guns.

yardwork

(64,967 posts)

21. Lol

Reply to Unladen Swallow (Reply #14)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:38 AM

Jan 8

travelingthrulife

(1,148 posts)

17. Lol. Protect and defend the 'precious'

Reply to Unladen Swallow (Reply #9)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:14 AM

Jan 8

Miguelito Loveless

(4,738 posts)

33. As assault weapons

Reply to Unladen Swallow (Reply #9)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 04:22 PM

Jan 8

are primarily used in mass shootings, I would guess the number of immigrants committing mass murder with assault rifles is even lower.

elleng

(137,308 posts)

5. 'Republican-led bill that would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants arrested

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Tue Jan 7, 2025, 09:36 PM

Jan 7

for theft-related crimes.'

ZonkerHarris

(25,552 posts)

7. this motherfucker is probably going to vote to confirm all of trump's nominees.

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 12:14 AM

Jan 8

Paladin

(29,104 posts)

8. Fetterman is clearly not a well man. (nt)

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 05:27 AM

Jan 8

johnnyfins

(1,553 posts)

15. Or they have something on him

Reply to Paladin (Reply #8)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 08:49 AM

Jan 8

Which is probably the more likely issue.

yardwork

(64,967 posts)

22. Nah, this is Fetterman being Fetterman.

Reply to johnnyfins (Reply #15)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:41 AM

Jan 8

He was elected on a populist platform and he wants to be reelected. PA went for Trump this past election, and threw out a Democratic senator who seemed to be popular. Since the election Fetterman has signaled a shift to the right.

LymphocyteLover

(7,073 posts)

12. on strictly practical terms, this sounds like a terrible bill, but of course it will become law

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 07:40 AM

Jan 8

under the new regime

yaesu

(8,402 posts)

16. Maybe the new Kyrsten Sinema or joe manchin? take your pick nt

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:13 AM

Jan 8

Last edited Wed Jan 8, 2025, 02:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Omnipresent

(6,550 posts)

27. From this day forward, he will forever be known as...

Reply to yaesu (Reply #16)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 11:22 AM

Jan 8

Kyrsten Manchin!

bluestarone

(18,494 posts)

19. Sad, but seems like we Democrats will always be cursed with that

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:18 AM

Jan 8

Manchin, Sinema types. Yuck just Yuck!

jgmiller

(457 posts)

20. This is will be unpopular opinion but

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 09:30 AM

Jan 8

We always complain that the GOP are bunch of lemmings following their leader in lockstep and not doing what they think is right so we shouldn't immediately complain when a dem does it. Fetterman from what I can see is not Manchin and Sinema, he has his reasons for doing stuff like this but when it comes time for the big stuff he does the right thing. Also this bill is basically a do nothing bill, it's designed to appeal to the public and is a waste of time but as things go it could have been far worse.

HereForTheParty

(416 posts)

24. "would allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security"

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 10:46 AM

Jan 8

Devil is in the details.

Jose Garcia

(2,987 posts)

25. Few? 48 Democrats in the House voted for it

Reply to Polybius (Original post)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 10:58 AM

Jan 8

FakeNoose

(36,220 posts)

29. It actually sounds like a sensible bill

Reply to Jose Garcia (Reply #25)

Wed Jan 8, 2025, 12:04 PM

Jan 8

... however the way it could be used in the wrong hands. Too many "red counties" and "red states" could take this as permission to detain ALL immigrants, or to over-scrutinize their documentation to the point where they lose their freedom even if they've committed no crimes. If that ever happens, it will signal that we've become a police state.

Senator Fetterman is smart to reach across the aisle, and at least try to keep a dialog going with the Repukes. I don't have a problem with that. Maybe he can use his influence (whatever influence he may have) to keep their worst impulses in check. I don't think Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema ever tried to do that, and I'm glad they are gone.