Congress launches early immigration crackdown ahead of Trump inauguration

Hill leaders are setting up the first votes of the 119th Congress this week — on a bill at the center of a heated political debate over illegal immigration. Why it matters: The expected votes in both chambers on the Laken Riley Act make clear Republicans plan to keep hitting the border issue — putting pressure on vulnerable Democrats trying to find their post-election footing. Driving the news: The House will vote Tuesday on the bill, which requires the detention of undocumented immigrants who commit certain nonviolent crimes such as theft, according to a House leadership aide. Senate Majority Leader John Thune began the process to allow a vote on the Senate version of the bill — likely on Friday, a senior Senate GOP aide confirmed. The bill is named after a nursing student who was murdered last year by an undocumented immigrant who had previously been arrested on theft charges. What they're saying: "I am thrilled that we're going to get moving," Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) told us about the bill, which she introduced in the Senate last year. Britt anticipates the bill will get Democratic votes "if they're being honest about what we need to do to protect Americans." What to watch: The bill already passed the House in 2024 with bipartisan support. It will need to pass the House again as it's a new Congress. Expect the bill to pick up Democrats in the Senate — though it's not clear it will be enough to overcome the 60-vote filibuster. Two House Democrats who voted in favor of the bill last year are now in the Senate — Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.). At least one other Trump-state Democrat is expected to vote in favor, according to a source familiar. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) — Riley's home state senator — is up for reelection in 2026. Ossoff told us he would "carefully consider any legislation that comes to the floor of the Senate." The bottom line: The Democratic support highlights the new reality for the party, which is still reeling from their 2024 losses. Democrats have been forced to move right on the immigration issue in particular, and are already signaling their willingness to work across the aisle on measures to secure the border. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.