Good vote by Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) and the rest of the Democrats in the Virginia Congressional delegation – with the exception of Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10), who for whatever reason(s) voted for thiis awful bill. The reasoning as to why the correct vote on this should have been NAY, are as Rep. Vindman explains, “The Laken Riley Act (H.R. 29) would require undocumented immigrants who, without due process, have been merely accused of low-level nonviolent offenses be immediately detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).” That’s completely unacceptable, which is why the correct vote on this was NAY.
P.S. Broken record alert: the evidence is that, if anything, undocumented immigrants commit crimes at significantly LOWER rates than native-born Americans (one study “found that undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes”). Not that facts matter to Republicans, obviously. Also, of course, as Rep. Vindman says, this Republican bill has “politicized a horrible crime that occurred at one of my alma maters, the University of Georgia.”
Vindman Votes to Safeguard Due Process, Urges Republican House Leadership to Get Serious About Lowering Costs for American Families
WASHINGTON – Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today cast his first legislative vote as a sitting Member in the U.S. House of Representatives and is disappointed that Republican House leadership did not provide for any opportunity to negotiate to improve the bill and chose to start with partisan politics over lowering costs for families. The Laken Riley Act (H.R. 29) would require undocumented immigrants who, without due process, have been merely accused of low-level nonviolent offenses be immediately detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“My first legislative vote as a sitting member should have been one that helps lower costs for hardworking families, yet Republican leadership chose a bill that would score them political points and divide our country further. We know our current immigration system is broken and requires comprehensive reform like the bipartisan Border Act negotiated in good faith by a group of pragmatic Senators. The Laken Riley Act puts additional burdens on our local police without their input or additional funding, overwhelms our corrections facilities, and leaves so many of the most pressing challenges on immigration unresolved.
“As an immigrant and a prosecutor, there is nothing more important to me than ensuring we remain a country that welcomes immigrants while also protecting our communities. If this bill becomes law, I am worried the scope is so broad it will be weaponized to detain and deport immigrants who are here on temporary status including refugees.
“After listening to the community, I voted no today to uphold the right to due process and keep our law enforcement focused on the most pressing issues in our communities, but remain frustrated by the lack of real solutions to our immigration problems. We need to find bipartisan solutions that prioritize securing our borders while providing pathways to legal immigration. In a nation of immigrants, I believe at my core that we can do both.
“This bill has politicized a horrible crime that occurred at one of my alma maters, the University of Georgia. I have walked the grounds Laken walked and one of my nephews is still on campus as a current student. I look forward to putting aside partisan rhetoric and delivering improvements to the asylum system, securing our borders, and treating lawful immigrants with respect.
“I hope House Republican leadership will listen to the voters that sent them to Washington – it’s time to get serious about lowering costs for Virginians and Americans across the country.”
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