CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins flagged a "notable" response from a Connecticut Democrat, who acknowledged at a televised town hall Thursday night that she regretted voting in favor of the Laken Riley Act.
President Donald Trump signed the act into law in late January, mandating that certain noncitizens be held without bail if they're accused of specific crimes, including theft, burglary, shoplifting, assaulting a police officer, or crimes causing death or serious bodily injury. The law applies even if charges are later dropped and includes people authorized to be in the United States, such as asylum seekers and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, or Temporary Protected Status. Minors are not exempt.
The Act was named after a Georgia nursing student who was killed last year by an asylum applicant who had prior arrests but was not detained.
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The legislation became the topic of discussion at a CNN town hall, which featured lawmakers, including Rep. Derek Tran (D-CA) and Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT).
Democrat Johnny Nguyen, an energy engineer, asked Tran, "So with Trump’s immigration policy and mass deportations, I’m getting really concerned about legislation like the Laken Riley Act, which begs the question of whether due process exists still in America. Given your background both as an attorney and also the son of immigrants like myself, what made you vote yes on that?"
Tran and Hayes both joined Republicans in voting for the legislation, with Tran saying that while he has empathy for immigrants — he was the son of Vietnamese immigrants — he "draws the line when it comes to crime."
"I believe that when you commit a crime, you should be deported. It made sense to me—as a lawyer, I believe in law and order as well," he said.
Hayes, however, wavered on her support. She said immigrants across this country — including those here legally and have followed the law — are being "terrorized right now because they are unsure of what happens next."
She also shed light on why she supported the bill.
"I voted for that piece of legislation because of a very specific provision, and it was if it caused injury or death to a police officer, which was one small piece of it. There were other things, about — to your point, Caitlin — someone who was charged but hadn’t been convicted."
She's since reconsidered her position.
"As I’ve thought about it over the last couple of months, I probably would have voted differently. It’s a vote that I regret," she admitted.
Hayes said that coming into this Congressional session, she trusted the Trump administration wanted border security and would work with Democrats.
"I’m not really sure of that," she concluded. "Because I’ve seen the rhetoric that has come out and the attacks that have been targeted toward immigrants. So I’m very cautious and careful when I’m negotiating my votes moving forward."
As she took her seat, Collins called her response "notable."
"It’s notable, Congresswoman, to hear you say you regret that vote," said Collins.
