When Democrat John Fetterman got elected to the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, many backers had hoped he’d challenge the status quo.
Ten Democrats in the Senate voted Friday to advance the Laken Riley Act, teeing up a final vote in the upper chamber. The Democratic supporters were Sens. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.),
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is the first Senate Democrat to sign onto a Republican-led bill that would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes.
After struggling on the issue in the 2024 election, Democrats are taking steps in the early days of the new Congress to recalibrate on immigration.
John Fetterman became the first Democratic senator to announce support for the Laken Riley Act. He was later joined by four others.