New Congressman Josh Riley of New York’s 19th district was just sworn in last Friday after defeating one-term Republican Marc Molinaro in November, but he’s already waded into the contentious issue of immigration by joining other Democrats voting to advance a GOP bill aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.
The legislation, known as the Laken Riley Act, requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain “certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting,” a summary of the bill says. “The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.”
Sarah Mehta, ACLU senior border policy counsel, said in a statement that the bill “will strengthen President-elect Trump’s hand in unleashing mass deportations on our communities. It will force immigration authorities to detain individuals accused of nonviolent theft offenses like shoplifting regardless of whether or not law enforcement even deems them as a threat.”
Riley spoke Thursday with Ian Pickus on WAMC’s “Congressional Corner” about his recent vote on the bill; whether or not he will attend President elect Trump’s second inauguration; and which committees he hopes to serve on in the House.
Image: Democrat Josh Riley claimed victory at a watch party in Ithaca, NY, in November, surrounded by supporters. (Credit: Rebecca Redelmeier/WSKG News/New York Public News Network).
The Laken Riley bill is neither tough nor fair. And to be clear, none of the people I know, who worked so hard to get you elected, voted for you to “secure the border.” That’s a talking point that sounds like it came from whatever nonsense PR firm you hired. By needlessly harassing immigrants, as this bill does, you make our communities less safe. If you keep voting this way, don’t expect the support we gave you in 2022 and 2024. You won by a razor thin margin; pandering to our worst instincts is no way to get reelected.