The Senate will reconvene at 1:00 P.M. and will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Cal. #1, S.5, Laken Riley Act. At approximately 3:00 P.M. the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill.
The House met at 9:30 A.M. for legislative business and is considering Pursuant to a Rule H.R. 23 – Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act.
Democrats will face an early test on how to navigate immigration under President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday when the Laken Riley Act becomes the first bill to hit the Senate floor. The bill, which would mandate federal detention of immigrants without legal status accused of theft, burglary and other related crimes, is set to become the first item voted on by the GOP-controlled Senate. The measure marks an opening salvo by the new majority as it tries to put Democrats in a tough spot from the outset on an issue that proved perilously difficult for them to handle throughout the 2024 election, giving Trump and Republicans a boost in the process. Given that West Virginia Governor and Senator-elect Jim Justice (R) will not be seated in the upper chamber until at least January 13th at the earliest, eight Democrats are needed to join Republicans to advance the bill. The vote will take place days after 48 Democrats voted with every Republican to pass the same measure in the House. Riley, a Georgia college student, was killed in February by a Venezuelan migrant who had been arrested for shoplifting ahead of the attack and paroled in the country. The initial Thursday vote would take place the day before Riley’s birthday. Where the bill goes from here remains up in the air. Amendment votes are expected next week, assuming Democrats vote to open debate on the bill, as they are likely to do.
