‘I Don’t Understand Anybody Who Would Vote Against That’: Chris Cuomo Presses Dem Sen on Opposing Laken Riley Bill

NewsNation host Chris Cuomo questioned Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker on Tuesday about voting against the Laken Riley Act, which would mandate federal immigration authorities detain illegal migrants who commit theft-related crimes in the U.S.

The Senate passed the bill shortly after President Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday, with only 12 Democratic senators voting in favor. Cuomo, on “CUOMO,” said he could not fathom how any lawmaker would oppose the bill, but Booker asserted his decision was based on the bill’s broader implications. (RELATED: New York Dem Tells Adams It’s Time To Turn ‘Tough Talk’ On Immigration Into Action)

“I got to tell you, that Laken Riley bill — I don’t understand anybody who would vote against that … I mean you’re saying it right now as a proposition, senator, that if somebody’s here illegally — I mean that’s the key word — but even if you forgive the entry, if they’re here and they commit a serious crime against women or children, who would vote against a bill to superpower authorities to get them out of here?” Cuomo asked.

Booker insisted that he “would never vote against a bill that did that,” but argued that the legislation was falsely advertised.

“This is what the bill was advertised as, but Chris, please. I wish I had the text of the bill here. It creates a mandatory detention for anyone so much as accused of any crime, even shoplifting,” Booker said. “Anybody of any age, even if the charges are cleared, that will suck up, as we were told by law enforcement professional after law enforcement professional, when you say it’s mandatory, when your department can be sued, you’re going to be drawing and billions of dollars of resources that should be better targeted and applied to the dangerous folks.” […]

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