Jan 22, 2025 Story by: Editor
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) issued a statement today following his vote in support of The Laken Riley Act (S.5), which passed the Senate with a 64-35 vote.
“While nothing can bring Laken Riley back, I hope today’s vote brings some comfort to her family and friends, as well as the UGA and Athens community,” said Senator Warnock. “I continue to grieve for her loved ones and am thankful our justice system held her convicted murderer accountable.”
Senator Warnock acknowledged that the legislation was not exactly as he would have drafted it. “This bill isn’t the legislation I would have written. That’s why I supported amendments from Democrats and Republicans to improve the bill, and I’m deeply disappointed we didn’t have a more robust debate in the Senate to consider other ideas that could have strengthened the final product,” he explained.
Emphasizing the need for broader reform, Warnock stated, “Comprehensive immigration reform will always be my north star, but I believe the people of Georgia want Congress to address the issues at the heart of this bill. I hope today’s vote is a genuine step toward true bipartisan cooperation to secure and strengthen resources at our southern border, smooth our asylum processes, and find a dignified solution for the scores of law-abiding undocumented Georgians working on our farms and in our communities.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of collaboration. “The only abiding way to fix our broken immigration system is for all of us to come together, put politics aside, and center the people. As a voice for Georgians in the Senate, I am fiercely committed to continuing to work across the aisle to find common ground and make progress on the issues Georgians and Americans care about,” he said. Source: Warnock
The bill, which was amended in the Senate last week, will be sent back for another vote in the Republican-led House, where it is expected to pass easily before it goes to Trump’s desk to become law. The House passed a version of the bill 264-159, with 48 Democrats voting for it.
The Democrats who voted yes were Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Warner of Virginia.
The measure, originally introduced in the Senate by Katie Britt, R-Ala., requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take custody of and detain undocumented immigrants who are charged, arrested, or convicted for committing acts of “burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.”
The Senate approved two amendments before final passage: one from John Cornyn, R-Texas, that adds assault of a law enforcement officer to the offenses that trigger detention, and another from Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, that expands that to acts causing death or bodily harm.
