TRENTON, N.J. — Democrats in New Jersey stood united in trying to block an immigrant crime and deportation bill inspired by the death of Laken Riley at the hands of a violent, illegal alien murderer. The bill was also inspired by several other high profile murders and violent acts committed by illegal aliens across America. Despite the New Jersey Democrats’ opposition, the bill passed Congress with a 264-159 vote, mostly along party lines, with Republicans supporting the measure and Democrats opposing it.
New Jersey’s Democratic congressional delegation voted against the Laken Riley Act, a measure aimed at increasing protections from violent offenders in the U.S. illegally, during a House vote on Tuesday.
Of the state’s 12 representatives, seven Democrats voted “nay,” while two Democratic members were marked as “not voting,” according to the roll call. All three Republicans from New Jersey cast “yea” votes in favor of the legislation.
The Laken Riley Act, named for a victim of a violent crime allegedly committed by an undocumented immigrant, sought to expand deportation powers for those convicted of certain violent offenses. Democratic lawmakers largely opposed the bill, arguing it could lead to due process concerns and overreach in immigration enforcement.
Seven New Jersey Democratic representatives — Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Mikie McIver, Robert Menendez, Shavonda Pou, and Frank Conaway — voted “nay” on the Laken Riley Act, while two Democrats, Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill, did not vote. The state’s three Republican representatives, Tom Kean Jr., Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew, all voted “yea” in support of the bill.
Notably, Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill, both Democrats, were absent from the vote. Republican representatives Tom Kean Jr., Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew backed the bill. Both are running for governor of New Jersey, realizing it could hurt their vote with the moderate Democrats and independents in the state in a general election.
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.
Under the bill, law enforcement officials must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
The bill also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a
- decision to release a non-U.S. national from custody;
- failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews;
- failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country;
- violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or
- failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.
The measure, which faced sharp partisan divides in the House, highlighted tensions over immigration and public safety policies ahead of an election year.
