Chris Van Hollen: “I appreciate that we are beginning an amendment process on S. 5 in the Senate. I hope we continue with that process, as…”

“I appreciate that we are beginning an amendment process on S. 5 in the Senate. I hope we continue with that process, as there are still significant improvements to be made to this bill. We must keep our communities safe and prioritize detention of violent offenders, and our focus must be on the most effective path to achieve that goal. I have introduced, along with Senator Kaine, an amendment that directly addresses the circumstances that led to the tragic murder of Laken Riley without creating a system that diverts resources away from the detention and deportation of violent offenders. I have also offered an amendment that makes clear that the apprehension and deportation of convicted violent offenders should be our highest enforcement priority. Yesterday, I voted against the Cornyn amendment, which would expand the category of offenses under which individuals are detained following an arrest only, not a conviction or even an indictment. While I appreciate the seriousness of those crimes, this would continue to take resources from detention and deportation of those who pose the greatest threat to our communities and who are actually convicted. I also voted for an amendment proposed by Senator Coons that would strike the section of the underlying bill that allows States attorneys general to sue the Federal Government when they disagree with any of the thousands of complex immigration enforcement decisions ICE and CBP make every day.…”