In a recent CNN town hall, Democratic Representative Jahana Hayes of Connecticut shockingly expressed her regret for voting in favor of the Laken Riley Act due to its impact on immigrants.
Hayes stated that the legislation, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in January, has “terrorized” legal immigrants and undermined due process. The congresswoman initially supported the law due to a provision aimed at protecting police officers, but has since reconsidered her stance.
The town hall’s co-moderator, Kaitlan Collins, asked Hayes about her support of the bill during a discussion about the Laken Riley Act, which was named after a nursing student who was tragically killed by an illegal alien. The law allows federal authorities to detain illegal migrants charged or found guilty of specific crimes and allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm illegal migrants may have caused to their citizens.
“So, I understand your concerns, and I understand how immigrants across this country who are here legally and have followed the law are being terrorized right now because they are unsure of what happens next,” Hayes said during the CNN event. “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, Kaitlan, someone who was charged but hadn’t been convicted.”
Why do you regret voting to protect our communities from illegal immigrant criminals, @JahanaHayesCT? https://t.co/343gMktNpp
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 11, 2025
“As I have thought about it over the last couple months, I probably would have voted differently. It’s a vote that I regret. But, coming into this Congress, I trusted that this administration, we would have some — that they wanted to have border security, they wanted to work with Democrats, that we could actually move forward,” she continued.
“I’m not really sure of that, because I have seen the rhetoric that has come out and the attacks that have been targeted towards immigrants. So I am very cautious and careful when I’m negotiating my votes moving forward,” Hayes added.
At the same town hall, fellow Democratic Representative Derek Tran of California faced questions about his support for the Laken Riley Act. Tran defended his vote, stating that he believes individuals who commit crimes should face deportation. He acknowledged his background as the son of Vietnamese immigrants but maintained that law and order must prevail.
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.) shut down Hayes when discussing which party is really for strong border security.
“I think it’s been explicitly clear through votes like the Laken Riley Act, where a broad bipartisan group of individuals voted for that legislation. Now, you mentioned that you regret your vote on that, and that’s your choice. But it was only Democrats that voted against that bill. All Republicans voted for it,” he addressed his Democrat colleague.
.@Ryan_Mackenzie takes Democrat @JahanaHayesCT to task for her outrageous statement she “REGRETS” voting for the bipartisan Laken Riley Act.
Mackenzie: “Did Laken Riley get due process? The answer is no.” pic.twitter.com/7KrKtQ71we
— NRCC (@NRCC) April 11, 2025
“And so you do see that difference and distinction between the two parties nowadays. Republicans want strong border security. They also want to enforce the laws on the books here in our country. And so, again, I think it is only reasonable to make sure that we are deporting these individuals that have committed crimes in our country,” Mackenzie added.
“But due process is a law on the books in this country. And that’s why Democrats, the people who voted against it, they had serious concerns about the lack of due process, which is on the books in this country,” Hayes responded.
“Did Laken Riley get due process? The answer is no,” the Republican lawmaker shot back.
