Key Senate Democrats come out in favor of "Laken Riley" bill that could enable mass deportations

Senate Democrats are facing an early test on how much to cooperate with President-elect Donald Trump and his new GOP majority with the so-called Laken Riley Act, which would mandate that the Department of Homeland Security detain and potentially deport undocumented immigrants accused — but not necessarily convicted — of nonviolent crimes such as trespassing and theft. “That’s one of why we lost, in part.” One Democratic aide told NBC News that some lawmakers are done listening immigrant rights advocacy groups and opposing mass deportations. Less obliging Democrats have warned that the legislation could muddle federal immigration policy while expediting mass deportations, noting that it sets a mere accusation as the standard for Department of Homeland Security detention — eliminating due process — and gives state attorneys general the power to sue the federal government over immigration policy. "This bill would upend 28 years of mandatory immigration detention policy by requiring that any undocumented immigrant arrested for theft, larceny, or shoplifting be detained, even if they are never convicted or even charged with a crime," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., calling it a "radical departure from the current law."