Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement on his vote to support The Laken Riley Act (S.5). The vote passed 64-35. 

“While nothing can bring Laken Riley back, I hope today’s vote brings some comfort to her family and friends, as well as the UGA and Athens community. I continue to grieve for her loved ones and am thankful our justice system held her convicted murderer accountable.

“This bill isn’t the legislation I would have written. That’s why I supported amendments from Democrats and Republicans to improve the bill, and I’m deeply disappointed we didn’t have a more robust debate in the Senate to consider other ideas that could have strengthened the final product.

“Comprehensive immigration reform will always be my north star, but I believe the people of Georgia want Congress to address the issues at the heart of this bill. I hope today’s vote is a genuine step toward true bipartisan cooperation to secure and strengthen resources at our southern border, smooth our asylum processes, and find a dignified solution for the scores of law-abiding undocumented Georgians working on our farms and in our communities.

“The only abiding way to fix our broken immigration system is for all of us to come together, put politics aside and center the people. As a voice for Georgians in the Senate I am fiercely committed to continuing to work across the aisle to find common ground and make progress on the issues Georgians and Americans care about.”

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