Arizona's Democratic Sen. Gallego on why he supports Laken Riley immigration bill

Republicans on Capitol Hill are getting closer to passing their first big-ticket immigration bill of the new Congress.

The Laken Riley Act is named for a woman from Georgia who was killed last year by an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally.

The bill would force federal agents to detain unauthorized immigrants accused of theft. It would also allow states to sue the federal government over immigration disputes. The bill has already passed in the House with bipartisan support, and is getting support from both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate.

Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego from Arizona co-sponsored the bill.

“In Arizona, people wanted us to reach across the aisle and work in a bipartisan manner for real solutions when it comes to immigration, border security,” Gallego says. “At the end of the day, if it's a good end product, then I think a lot of us will vote for it.”

A lot of people in Arizona have concerns about the bill being used to deport people who have not been convicted of a crime. What do you say to that?

“What we saw in this bill so far is that it says detained. That has nothing to do with deportation. Deportation proceedings are something separate from that.

“This is a reflection of where we are in this country right now, especially in Arizona. People want to see some solutions.”

Are you open to amendments, like allowing immigrants due process and the presumption of innocence?

“We'll see what amendments actually come to the floor and versus not, and then we'll make a determination on that.”

What do you say to Democrats who voted for you and might be disappointed in your support for the bill?

“I supported this bill last time, and if you saw the campaign, it was very clear that we are going to work across the aisle, bring more tools to bring more security, and fight for immigration reform.

“I also think it's important for people to understand that where the actual American public is, where even Latinos are in this country … Latinos want border security. Latinos also want immigration reform. Latinos want some really bad people that are undocumented in our communities out of these communities.

“We always take everyone's opinions into account, but where the Latino vote is and where they believe and how they believe about immigration and border security is entirely different, I think, from some of the grasstops.”

You’re the first Latino senator from Arizona. What does that mean to you?

“For someone like me who grew up without Latino role models, being able to be a role model to young Latinos, especially males, is really important. I still remember when I met the first Latino that went to college. It was shocking to me because I didn't know that I could even go to college.

“On the campaign trail, no matter where I traveled, I would always meet young Latino families who would bring their kids and their sons and daughters up to me and ask me to talk to their kids because they wanted their kids to know that there is an opportunity for them. That yes, you can be someone like me who comes from a single-family home. My mom raised us four kids on her own. For me to be able to maybe inspire some kid to keep going, I think is really important.

“Being Latino, I think I get to kind of understand all worlds. And what I mean by that is that I travel Arizona extensively where I really talk to everyday Latinos and it gives me a better understanding of where they are.

“That helps me actually create and craft legislation because if you talk to Latinos, you'll see what they really want, right? They want a chance at the American dream. They want border security. They want security in their neighborhoods. They want their kids to be able to go to good schools and actually have a chance at the American dream.

“Sometimes that's not necessarily reflected by elected officials because they, they're only advocating and or pushing policies that they think the Latino community wants when they're not actually talking to them.”