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
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Kyrsten Manchin! 
... 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.
