
Democrats will face an early test on how to navigate immigration under President-elect Trump on Thursday when the Laken Riley Act becomes the first bill to hit the Senate floor.
The bill, which would mandate federal detention of immigrants without legal status accused of theft, burglary and other related crimes, is set to become the first item voted on by the GOP-controlled Senate.
The measure marks an opening salvo by the new majority as it tries to put Democrats in a tough spot from the outset on an issue that proved perilously difficult for them to handle throughout the 2024 election, giving Trump and Republicans a boost in the process.