I admire U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch’s support for the Laken Riley immigration bill, making him the lone member of the Mass. delegation to vote for the measure, as ‘BUR reports. … And I admire Gov. Healey’s  comments, via the Hill, on recent immigration arrests: “I support the apprehension of criminals.”

As for the Laken Riley bill, it’s indeed “imperfect,” as Lynch calls it, and I share U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern’s concerns that the somewhat loosely worded measure may serve as a “trojan horse” for more draconian immigration actions down the road. But are Democrats really going to oppose each and every immigration bill using a variation of the trojan horse/slippery slope excuse? If so, they’re opening themselves up, yet again, to accusations that they’re soft on crime. … Instead, Dems should make clear they’re for the detention and deportation of known immigrant criminals and gang members – but against mass round-ups of law-abiding immigrants. Dems need to distinguish between the two. 

Btw: A total of 46 House Dems voted for the Lanen Riley bill. Lynch was far from alone among Dems in supporting it.

Btw II: Here’s an AP summary of the legislation, set to be signed by Trump, with the loosely worded “accused of theft” provision that has some Dems worried.