The U.S. Congress Approves Detention of Some Illegal Immigrants

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval to a legal proposal that mandates the detention of illegal immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes. According to the Associated Press, this is the first measure that U.S. President Donald Trump can sign into law. The proposal had previously been approved by the U.S. Senate on Monday. The approval of this measure comes as Congress, with limited bipartisan support, quickly aligns with his plans to crack down on illegal immigration. This legislation is named the 'Leah Riley Act' after a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was murdered last year by a Venezuelan man while jogging. The passage of this measure in the House indicates that political discussions about immigration have shifted to the right following Trump's victory. Immigration policy has always been one of the most contentious issues in the U.S. Congress. However, a significant group of 46 Democratic representatives joined the proposal, which ultimately passed with 263 votes in favor and 156 against. Katie Britt, a senator from Alabama, called it 'perhaps the most important immigration enforcement bill' passed by Congress in nearly three decades. This Republican senator stated, 'For decades, our government has been unable to reach an agreement on solutions to border and domestic issues.' Meanwhile, the Pentagon will deploy about 1,500 active-duty troops in the coming days to help secure the southern border, an action aligned with Trump's executive orders to combat the wave of illegal immigration to the U.S.