Katie Britt: “reserving my right to object, the Laken Riley Act is a targeted, commonsense, lifesaving bill. This legislation adds…”

“reserving my right to object, the Laken Riley Act is a targeted, commonsense, lifesaving bill. This legislation adds crimes to the mandatory detention provisions of the INA and uses the existing framework of the INA. What this amendment would do is introduce new carve-outs that don't already exist. We have a crisis in this Nation. Our border has been overrun, and every city across this country is paying the price. Today, we return to common sense. We return to practicality. If you come here illegally and you commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this Nation. Our children deserve better, and that is exactly what we are giving them today. My colleague from Colorado speaks of DACA. Of the 537,000 DACA recipients in this Nation, there is not one that is under the age of 17. And, in fact, of the 537,000 recipients, there are only 1,000 between the ages of 17 and 20. When you are talking about other minors across this Nation, some of which may be here illegally, we are seeing the cost to them right now. Look no further than what is happening in New York. We have teen migrant gangs running rampant, where you have minors as young as 11 being involved in the theft and burglary rings. What do you think you do if you carve out a certain set of minors? Do you think you make them more safe from the people looking to do them harm? Do you think the drug cartels, all of a sudden, say: Hey, I am going to leave them alone. No, that is not what happens.…”