Gallego is latest Dem to back Laken Riley Act

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is the latest Democratic senator to sign on to support the Laken Riley Act, the House-passed immigration legislation with improving odds of passing in the upper chamber.

“We must give law enforcement the means to take action when illegal immigrants break the law, to prevent situations like what occurred to Laken Riley,” he said in a statement.

The bill, approved Tuesday by the House with notable bipartisan support, would require the detention of any undocumented immigrant charged with theft or burglary. Gallego, elected to the Senate last November and sworn in last week, voted for the legislation when he was a member of the House last Congress.

Gallego joins Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who both plan to vote for the bill. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is also expected to vote to advance the bill, according to a person familiar with his plans. With four Democrats already supporting the legislation, Republicans need four more – eight total – to break a filibuster and pass the bill.