Democrats unveil measure allowing local authorities to hold immigrants charged with violent crimes – The Hill

A bill introduced by seven Democratic senators and independent allies on Thursday that would increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ( ICE ) authority would allow the agency to obtain judicial warrants to detain immigrants who entered the country without authorization and were being detained for violent crimes.

The GOP is placing more emphasis on immigration in the wake of the invoice as Democrats debate the issue in response to the GOP’s language regarding the 2024 election. Three of the president’s donors, Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown ( Ohio ), Tammy Baldwin ( Wis. ) and Bob Casey ( Pa. ), face tough reelection fights.

Sens. Chris Murphy ( D- Conn. ), Tim Kaine ( D- Va. ), Angus King ( I- Maine ) and Kyrsten Sinema ( I- Ariz. ) also sponsored the measure.

It is true that there are times when ICE needs to take custody of a noncitizen accused or convicted of a major crime, Murphy said in a speech. ” This plan is a just- designed, sensible solution to address that major space, while also preserving the due process rights of noncitizens”.

In accordance with existing law, ICE requests ejectment requests in regional courts to prosecute undocumented individuals who are detained by local authorities. Not all states follow the calls. Giving ICE the power to demand criminal permits for those accused of violent acts guarantees that they will be detained by national government.

However, Murphy made it clear that the Democrats ‘ plan is significantly different from those made by Republicans to outlaw” shelter places,” which are states that disregard detainer calls, or to allow local authorities to detain anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant.

The Laken Riley Act, one of the most well-known House GOP initiatives, particularly targets unauthorized people who are accused of theft. It is named for a Georgia student who was killed last month by one like illegal migrant.

This legislation, according to Murphy, had actually resolve one of the issues facing our immigration system, rather than be used as a demonization tool, contrary to the bills introduced by House Republicans. Republicans should support this bill if they are interested in anything other than social theatre.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee [NRS C] shrugged off the measure, blaming it as a political stunt to divert attention from what the GOP has criticized as weak border policy.

According to NRSC spokesman Mike Berg,” They are trying to stupid voters by rewriting their information, and it will not work.”

Some Democrats, particularly those in small 2024 ethnicities, have criticized President Biden for his borders plan. More than 20 House Democrats formed a frontier plan job force earlier this month, and just over a few of them approved a resolution last year denouncing Biden.