Indivisibles,

Last night, the Senate took another procedural step toward passing one of the most dangerous, chaotic, and cruel immigration bills in recent history -- the Laken Riley Act. But this fight is far from over. Democrats can still stop this bill before it becomes law, but we need 41 of them to find their spines and do the right thing. And they’re going to need to hear from you to do that.

Here’s everything you need to know and what we need you to do next. 

For starters, let’s be honest about this bill: It has nothing to do with Laken Riley. The tragedy it’s named after is being weaponized as a dog whistle to stoke fear, demonize immigrants, and advance MAGA’s cruel, authoritarian agenda. Hard stop. This bill wouldn’t protect anyone. What it would do is create chaos and a constitutional crisis that could impact millions. 

Here’s how: 

1. It Imprisons Immigrants Indefinitely Without Due Process -- Accused of a minor offense, like shoplifting? Not convicted -- just accused? You’re detained indefinitely. No bail. No trial. No justice. Even if charges are dropped, or you’re proven innocent, you stay locked up. That’s not safety. That’s state-sanctioned cruelty.
2. It Targets Dreamers and Legal Immigrants -- Dreamers who grew up here, went to school here, and are part of our communities? Detained. Refugees fleeing violence? Detained. Even legal immigrants caught in bureaucratic limbo are swept up in this nightmare. This bill punishes everyone.
3. It Hands MAGA Extremists Federal Power -- This bill gives people like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton the ability to hijack federal immigration policy. He could demand federal judges lock up asylum seekers en masse or block visas for doctors, engineers, or students from entire countries. Imagine one MAGA state deciding who can live and work in the United States. That’s what this bill allows.
4. It Guts Legal Immigration -- By letting courts impose blanket visa bans on entire countries, this bill risks shutting down legal immigration altogether. Skilled workers, students, and even families trying to reunite would be turned away -- not because of anything they’ve done, but because MAGA needs a scapegoat.

This bill isn’t about keeping communities safe -- it’s about stoking fear and division, handing MAGA extremists unchecked power, and dismantling constitutional protections.

And Democrats are letting it happen.

Last week, the bill passed the House 264-159. Forty-eight Democrats sided with Republicans (you can check to see how your Representative voted here). Then, last Thursday in the Senate, 33 Democrats joined all Republicans to proceed to the bill in an 84-9 vote. That’s right: 33 Democrats. 

Why? Well, I’ll give my honest take: The Democratic caucus is in a pretty bad place right now. A decent number of Democratic office-holders are consumed with post-loss finger-pointing and scared of their own shadows. They’re so scared to look weak on immigration that they’re on the verge of greenlighting a constitutional nightmare. And Democratic leadership has made no effort to stop this bill. It’s every senator for themselves right now.

That’s where you come in.

As of right now, the next vote on this bill is not yet scheduled -- but it will happen soon. Democrats can make sure this bill never becomes law if 41 of them can do the right thing and vote no. Call your senators NOW and tell them to find their spines and get in formation to stop this bill.

To the nine Senate Democrats who voted the right way -- Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, Andy Kim, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, and Elizabeth Warren -- thank you. If any of these folks are your senators, you should take a few minutes today to make a thank-you call.

We don’t have to agree on the perfect immigration solutions to agree that this bill is wildly bad -- and handing Donald Trump more tools to drive his mass deportation agenda, or Ken Paxton the power to set federal immigration policy, is unacceptable.

This is the moment for Dems to fight back. Make sure that they know you’re watching.

In solidarity,
Leah

Leah Greenberg Co-Executive Director Pronouns: She/her