Sen. John Fetterman calling out Democrats for refusing to support the Laken Riley Act is "exactly right," says Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas.
"How in the world could anybody vote against this right before we voted for it? Somebody asked me, ‘You think anybody would vote against this legislation?’ I said, ‘I don't see how they would, but I was surprised,’" Williams told Newsmax TV’s "The Chris Salcedo Show."
House Republicans on Tuesday passed the bill, named for a 22-year-old Georgia nursing school student whose murder last year by an immigrant in the country illegally became a flashpoint in the presidential campaign.
The 264-159 vote puts pressure on the upper chamber to support the legislation when Republicans bring it to the floor for an initial vote Friday.
The legislation would change federal law to require ICE to issue detainers and take custody of people in the country illegally who commit theft-related crimes, including shoplifting.
Williams said Democrats "are still living with Trump syndrome in their head."
"Anything that might help anybody on the other side, they're against. And it's not what America voted for on Nov. 5, even their constituents. People want a safe country. And this legislation begins to get that done," he added.
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Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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