John,

The Senate returns today at 3pm ET and its first order of business is debating an anti-immigrant bill that passed the House last week. The Senate wants to vote on the “Laken Riley Act” this week, which subjects undocumented individuals to detention based solely on arrests, disproportionately harming Black and brown communities through racial profiling.

This bill would create an unprecedented practice denying due process, removing judicial discretion, and disrupting criminal proceedings. It also opens the door to discriminatory state lawsuits brought by anti-immigrant state attorneys general against federal immigration policies.

The right wing wants this to be the first bill they send to Donald Trump, who takes the oath of office one week from today. Act now to tell your senators to reject this dangerous, anti-immigrant legislation.

The “Laken Riley Act” seeks to exploit tragedy in order to scapegoat immigrants while doing nothing to enhance public safety and is just the first of many attacks on immigrant communities we expect to see in Congress. As many of you heard on our webinar last week, it is important for us to stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors this week and in the months ahead.¹

Thank you for fighting back against anti-immigrant hate,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, CHN Action

¹ Our Path Forward: Practical ways to protect people from harm despite threats from the new Administration and Congress

-- DOMINIQUE'S EMAIL --

John,

This week, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on an anti-immigrant bill that right-wingers hope is the first piece of legislation that they send to Donald Trump to sign when he’s sworn in on January 20th.

The bill, known as the “Laken Riley Act” requires the mandatory arrest and detention―without access to bail―of any undocumented person convicted of or merely arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting-related offenses. There is no statute of limitations and no mechanism for the individual to contest their immigration detention in order to resolve the underlying criminal charges against them (if charges are even brought).

It undermines constitutional protections and disrupts the balance of power between states and the federal government, giving anti-immigrant state attorneys general the ability to unleash chaos on the immigration system. This bill could motivate anti-immigrant jurisdictions to detain immigrants on completely baseless charges, which could result in these individuals lacking the ability to defend themselves or obtain bail.

While we are hopeful for amendments, such as protections for Dreamers, that may make this bill less damaging, the underlying legislation perpetuates systemic inequities and disproportionately harms Black and brown communities through racial profiling.

Click here to send a message to your U.S. Senators to oppose this dangerous anti-immigrant legislation.

Anti-immigrant Members of Congress have long sought to dehumanize and stigmatize immigrants by conflating immigration with decreased public safety. There is no correlation between citizenship or immigration status and crime. In fact, evidence shows that immigrants make our communities stronger by invigorating local economies and fortifying urban development and cultural growth.¹

This bill represents a dangerous and cynical use of legislative power, scapegoating immigrants while doing nothing to enhance public safety.  

Send a message to your U.S. Senators today, urging them to protect, not attack, our immigrant communities.

We urge Members of Congress not to succumb to a political ploy that manipulates a tragic act to demonize and criminalize an entire group of people.

Thank you for taking action today,

Dominique Espinoza
Policy and Strategic Partnerships Manager, CHN Action

¹ Immigrants’ Deportations, Local Crime and Police Effectiveness