U.S. Senate Advances Immigration Bill to Expand Detention for Theft Charges

Washington: So, the U.S. Senate just voted to push ahead with a new immigration bill. This one’s all about making it mandatory to detain immigrants who get charged with property crimes like theft or shoplifting.

In a pretty solid show of support, they voted 82-10, with most Democrats and all Republicans on board. A few Democrats, though, weren’t having it, including some big names like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is really backing this bill, saying it’s a no-brainer. It’s named after a young nursing student from Georgia who was tragically murdered. The guy charged with her murder had a history of shoplifting and was in the country illegally.

Thune expressed concern that Democrats might try to complicate things with unrelated issues. Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, is hoping for some debate on amendments.

The bill would mean that if an immigrant is charged with theft or similar crimes, they can’t get out on bond. It also targets noncitizens without proper authorization and could affect those in programs like DACA.

Plus, it gives state attorneys general more power to challenge federal immigration laws. This bill is similar to one that passed in the House last year but didn’t get a vote in the Senate when Democrats were in control.

Now, with the House backing it again, it seems like border security is a hot topic, especially with the upcoming election.