by Ben Whedon
The Senate on Thursday voted to advance the “Laken Riley Act” past a critical procedural threshold, clearing the way for a final vote on the legislation.
The upper chamber cleared the vote 84 to 9, with a large majority of Senate Democrats voting in favor, The Hill reported. The House of Representatives passed the bill earlier this week, meaning it could reach the president’s desk in time for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
If passed, the act would mandate the detention of illegal immigrants charged with an array of crimes. The bill is named for the late University of Georgia student who was murdered last year by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant who received life in prison.
The House vote saw 48 Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill outright in a 264 to 159 vote.
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Ben Whedon is a reporter for Just the News.
Photo “Laken Riley” by GoFundMe.
