Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) said at a CNN town hall Thursday that she regrets her vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act.
“As I’ve thought about it over the past couple of months, I probably would have voted differently. It’s a vote that I regret,” Hayes said at the forum.
The congresswoman said she initially voted for the legislation because of the provision stating “if it caused injury or death to a police officer.” She added that provision “was one small piece of it.”
Hayes went on to say that she trusted that the Trump administration wanted to work with Democrats on Capitol Hill to secure the southern border. However, the congresswoman said she is “not really sure of that, because I’ve seen the rhetoric that has come out and the attacks that have been targeted toward immigrants. So I am very cautious and careful when I am negotiating my votes moving forward.”
Hayes represents a relatively competitive House district that is being targeted by House Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms. She made the comments at the town hall along with other lawmakers from competitive districts, including Rep. Derek Tran (R-Calif.), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-Penn.).
Tran also explained his decision to vote for the Laken Riley Act.
“I did vote with my Republican colleagues on the Laken Riley Act because I draw a line when it comes to crime,” Tran said.
“I believe that when you commit a crime, you should be deported,” he continued.
The Laken Riley Act requires the detention of migrants without legal status, including those allowed into the U.S. to seek asylum, if they have been accused of theft, shoplifting, or burglary.
The legislation was named for Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant who was arrested for shoplifting ahead of the attack after he was paroled into the country.
The legislation garnered bipartisan support, with 46 Democrats, including Hayes and Tran, joining with Republicans in the House to vote for it. In the Senate, 12 Democrats joined with Republicans to pass the legislation.