GOP immigration law is passed by the house, future in the Senate uncertain

GOP immigration law is passed by the house, future in the Senate uncertain

Washington, CNN - The House of Representatives approved a draft law on Tuesday, which would require the detention of undocumented migrants who are charged with certain crimes. However, the law faces an uncertain future in the Senate, which illustrates the challenges with which the Republicans are confronted, even though they control both chambers of the congress.

The Riley Act: a central concern of the Republicans

The decision of the Republicans in the House of Representatives, the draft law, known as Riley Act as a sheet, as the first law of the new congress meeting, illustrates the central priority of this topic for the party. However, the narrow majorities in both chambers could limit the possibilities of the Republicans. It is unclear whether the law receives the necessary votes in the Senate, which is expected to take up the measure on Friday.

Procedure of the House of Representatives

The vote in the House of Representatives ended with 264 to 159 votes, with 48 Democrats voting with the Republicans. When the law was coordinated in the previous meeting of the congress, 37 Democrats had voted for the draft law.

The pressure on the Democrats grows

The Democrats are under pressure to become active in the immigration question, especially after the election of Donald Trump, in an election cycle in which the Republicans often represent their opponents as too severe in border and immigration policy. After Trump's victory, some Democrats explained that the party had to do more to address voters in this area.

The challenge in the Senate

A critical mass of Democrats would have to join the Republicans in order to achieve the required 60 votes that are necessary to advance most legal texts in the Senate. This is a significant restriction for the new GOP majority in the Senate and the upcoming agenda of the elected President Donald Trump.

Details on the draft law

The law would prescribe the detention of undocumented migrants who are charged with theft or burglary. The draft law is named after a student from Georgia who was killed last year during her run. An undocumented migrant from Venezuela was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without probation, which again sparked a national debate about immigration and crime.

The current political landscape

The spokesman for the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has headed the narrowest majority government in the House of Representatives for about a century, and the Republicans control only 53 seats in the Senate. Usually at least seven democrats would have to be right with the Republicans to advance a draft law with regard to a possible filibuster. Since the elected Senator Jim Justice from West Virginia delayed his swearing -in to end his term as governor, the draft law needs eight votes from Democrats in the upcoming vote in the Senate.

support from the ranks of the Democrats

The Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania has announced his support for the law. In an explanation of CNN, he explained: “The story of sheets Riley is a tragic memory of what is at stake when our systems fail to protect people. No family should have to suffer the pain of losing a loved one through avoidable violence. I am immigration great. Work. ”

The democratic Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, who is for re -election in 2026, has also announced his support for the Riley Act sheet. When asked why he wanted to vote for it, Peters replied: "Border security and the security of the Americans."

The way to adopt the law

The Republicans are aware of the limits of their narrow majority and prepare a advance for a comprehensive law package that will enable them to avoid the 60 votes hurdle in the Senate. However, there are already disagreements about the strategy and priorities that should be included in this package. Some Republicans want a single package that covers a variety of policy areas, while others argue that the approach should be divided into two separate packages.

This story has been updated with further developments. CNNS Ted Barrett and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.