Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin voted against the Laken Riley Act, saying it will “cause more chaos”

In a statement to Civic Media, she said the bill will “throw another wrench into our complicated immigration system and fails to prioritize the people who are guilty of committing crimes.”

Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn into office as the 47th president on Monday, Jan. 20, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the Laken Riley Act. The final vote on the bill was 64-35, with several Democrats joining the new Republican majority voting in favor. 

The Laken Riley Act is an immigration bill named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant. The bill expands mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants who are accused of – but not convicted of – certain crimes including burglary, larceny, theft or shoplifting. It would also give state attorneys general new powers to sue the federal government over allegations of failing to enforce immigration laws, “if the State or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100,” according to the bill. Republicans have favored the bill as a way to crack down on immigration, and Democrats and some immigration rights groups have raised concerns over due process.

The bill passed with two Republican-led amendments, and will go back to the House for final approval. It is expected to pass and be sent to President Donald Trump’s desk to be signed.

While all Republicans and several Democrats from swing states voted in favor of the bill, Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin joined the majority of Democrats in voting against it. 

In a statement to Civic Media, Sen. Baldwin said of her vote, “I came to the table to debate the Laken Riley Act because I’ll work with anyone to fix our broken immigration system and keep our Wisconsinites safe – and I’m glad to have improved the bill to ensure that violent criminals and those who assault cops are going to be prioritized. But, at the end of the day, this bill needed more changes because, right now, it will cause more chaos and throw another wrench into our complicated immigration system and fails to prioritize the people who are guilty of committing crimes.”

In a Jan. 9 interview on Civic Media’s “The Maggie Daun Show,” Baldwin said that she would not be supporting the bill “in its current form,” but voted to bring the bill to the floor to debate and discuss amendments. 

Baldwin co-sponsored an amendment aiming to provide protection from deportation and a path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and individuals with Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), which was not included in the final bill.

Baldwin also voted in favor of an amendment introduced by Iowa Republican Joni Ernst and an amendment introduced by Texas Republican John Cornyn, both of which passed, and also had the support of Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson. Baldwin also voted in favor of an amendment introduced by Delaware Democrat Chris Coons, which would strike the provision expanding powers for state attorneys general from the bill, which failed on a 46 to 49 vote. Sen. Johnson voted no on that amendment. 

Democrats who voted yes on the bill included Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Mark Warner of Virginia, and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who became a co-sponsor of the bill. The bill was introduced by Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama.

Find the full text of the bill here.