New York, NY—Today, the U.S. Senate advanced a cloture vote to move with the passage of H.R. 29 that would require ICE to detain, without the opportunity to seek bond, undocumented immigrants who are simply arrested or charged with – not found guilty of – nonviolent crimes, including burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting. Among many others, this would impact DACA recipients, children under the age of 18, including unaccompanied children. The legislation also expands the standing of state Attorney Generals to seek injunctions against the federal government for immigration policy decisions, which will create chaos in the federal courts.
Thirty five Senate Democrats voted no (including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand), but ten Democrats voted in favor of the bill. The Senate vote comes weeks after the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the same measure with 48 Democrats voting in support.
The legislation now moves toward a final vote in the Senate, followed by a vote in the House, before being sent to President-elect Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Immigrants are integral to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of our country, fueling industries, enriching neighborhoods, and strengthening our future. Instead of recognizing these contributions and working toward meaningful, humane immigration reform, elected officials are choosing to scapegoat and demonize immigrants for political gain. The Senate’s decision to advance H.R. 29 is a direct attack on immigrant communities and will result in far more immigrant New Yorkers being criminalized and detained by ICE, while unduly ripping families apart, destabilizing communities and our economy. We call on the New York Congressional Delegation to reject this harmful, punitive measure that will have untold consequences on our Black and Brown immigrant neighbors, who remain disproportionally impacted by our criminal justice system, and instead prioritize policies that uphold human dignity, protect immigrant families, and foster safe, inclusive communities for everyone who calls America home.”