Tell our Senators: Vote NO on the Laken Riley Act!
Call BOTH of your Senators.
Call Script
My name is __________. I am a constituent, and my zip code is _______. I am a member of Indivisible SF.
I urge the Senator to vote NO on the Laken Raley Act, which would criminalize immigrant communities, violate human rights, and erode constitutional protections.
Background
From the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights:
NNIRR strongly condemns the passage of the Laken Riley Act and urges community members to contact their senators to oppose S.5. This harmful bill would criminalize immigrant communities, violate human rights, and erode constitutional protections. The bill has just passed the House and is now heading to the Senate, where several Democratic Senators have already expressed their support. Unfortunately, few senators are thoroughly examining the substance of the bill and are overlooking its unconstitutional provisions.
We urge community members to call or email their senators TODAY and urge them to vote NO on S.5 the Laken Riley Act. Click here for a full list of senators and their contact information.
The legislation is a clear manifestation of racism and xenophobia, not only against undocumented migrants but also against those with vulnerable immigration statuses. If enacted, it would subject immigrants to prolonged, indefinite detention without bond based on mere allegations of petty offenses, while granting states the ability to override the federal executive branch’s immigration policy.
In short, this initiative would promote a harmful and deeply discriminatory framework, through the following provisions:
Limits on Executive Branch Power: The bill would severely restrict the executive branch’s ability to shape immigration policy by allowing states to sue over a wide range of immigration actions. This would lead to constant litigation from opposing states, making it difficult for administrations to implement new policies.
Creates a Constitutional Chaos in Courts: The bill would overwhelm federal courts by granting states blanket standing to sue over immigration policies, regardless of their direct interest. This would flood the courts with cases, violating the constitutional principle that courts should only hear disputes with actual harm.
Promotes Duplication of Existing Authority: The bill unnecessarily expands detention authority by mandating detention for individuals arrested for theft-related offenses, even though the government already has the power to detain anyone in deportation proceedings. It would require detention without bond hearings, even for minor offenses.
Leads to Due Process Violations: Requiring no-bond detention based solely on arrest or charges raises serious due process concerns, as it denies individuals the opportunity for a fair hearing. This could lead to prolonged detention of innocent individuals and would exacerbate racial disparities, as people of color—primarily Black and Brown individuals—are disproportionately arrested.
Generates Disruption of Criminal Prosecutions: The bill would disrupt criminal prosecutions by requiring immigration authorities to detain individuals after a theft-related arrest, even if a criminal judge has already released them on bail. This would complicate transportation to court and hinder prosecutors’ ability to proceed with cases.
Republicans and their right-leaning Democratic allies cannot credibly promote prosperity or freedom while pursuing policies that pander to populist—and racist, xenophobic—fears targeting entire groups within our communities. Branding migrants as “criminals” and denying not only their humanity but also their personhood before the law, falsely implies that our country has no obligations under the U.S. Constitution or international law.