Ted Budd: “let me be clear. The amendment I am offering prevents illegal aliens who commit the crime of burglary, theft, or…”

“let me be clear. The amendment I am offering prevents illegal aliens who commit the crime of burglary, theft, or shoplifting from being granted legal status or citizenship. This is particularly relevant in the case of Laken Riley, where the illegal alien who murdered her had previously been arrested for those crimes. The American people need to know who stands on the side of preventing tragedies and who will enable them. Now, I know my Democratic colleagues are fearful, perhaps squeamish, to prevent immigration issues from being voted on tonight. We have even gone into past midnight and into a brief government shutdown to avoid it. I might be a freshman in this Chamber, but I have been here long enough to know that deadlines are powerful motivators but so should be common sense and common decency. Look, we have seen the cost of not dealing with this issue in the tragic death of Laken Riley, and I hope each and every one of my colleagues would agree it is time to act and support my amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.”