WATCH: Fetterman Explodes On Fellow Democrats For Refusing To Support Laken Riley Act

A furious U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) torched his liberal colleagues Tuesday night following the U.S. House’s passage of the Laken Riley Act, spending a great deal of his time on Fox News reminding his fellow Democrats, “This is the reason why we lost.” The comments were exceptionally personal for Fetterman, who has taken heat from former staffers and supporters for his about-face since winning the election in 2022 on a progressive, populist agenda.

At the same time, they indicate that the junior senator from Pennsylvania is fed up with what he views as intransigence on a “common sense” issue where both parties should agree that criminals in the country illegally should be deported. Senate Republicans, who hold 53 seats, are seeking eight Democrats to break the filibuster and send the Laken Riley Act to President Joe Biden’s desk, and so far have also garnered support from border state Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who is co-sponsoring the Senate’s version of the bill. On Tuesday, Axios reported that Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who is up for reelection next year, will also back the bill. “If you’re here illegally and you’re committing crimes, I don’t know why anybody thinks that it’s controversial, that they all need to go,” Fetterman said on Fox News Tuesday.

“I’d like to remind everybody that we have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of migrants here illegally that have been convicted of crimes, and I don’t know why – who wants to defend them to remain in our nation?” he asked. “And now if you’re here committing crimes and those things, I don’t know why anybody thinks it’s controversial that they all need to go.” Asked if illegal immigration was a defining issue of the 2024 election, Fetterman concurred. “I think if we can’t – you know, there’s 47 [Democrats] in the Senate, and if we can’t pull up with seven votes, and get at least seven out of 47, then that’s one of the reasons why we lost. That’s one of ’em, in part,” he added. Before Fetterman’s interview, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) privately told his caucus members that they may engage with Republicans regarding the Laken Riley Act, a posture that signals they may be open to supporting the bill if concessions are made, Axios reported.

The bill expands the federal government’s authority to deport illegal immigrants convicted of certain nonviolent crimes like theft and distribution of illegal drugs. Existing law already allows for the deportation of individuals convicted of two such “minor” crimes, though in practice, the arrest of illegal immigrants in blue or purple states often means that defendants may post bail and be released before immigration authorities can take them into custody. Liberals have defended the practices of sanctuary city and state politicians refusing to cooperate with deportations, but to Fetterman, last year’s electoral outcome is a sign that the majority of Americans no longer see things their way.

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Elsewhere in his remarks, Fetterman chastised Democrats for having “freak outs” every time President-elect Trump discusses something controversial, saying it takes their eye off the ball and allows Republicans to pass critical legislation while his colleagues are focused on the latest distraction – in this case, Trump’s suggestion that he might use military force to take over Greenland. “I do think it’s a responsible conversation,” Fetterman said, comparing the acquisition to the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 by Thomas Jefferson. “I mean, if anyone thinks that’s bonkers, well remember the Louisiana Purchase? I think Alaska was a great deal, too, fifty million dollars… I’m open to having all kinds of conversations. It’s not helpful to freak out, but some things might work out, some might not, but that’s part of an ongoing dialogue. He doesn’t even take office for two weeks,” he added.

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