The Republican Party of Florida released an ad Monday slamming Reps. Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto for opposing the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of illegal immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.
"@MaxwellFrostFL & @DarrenSoto voted AGAINST the Laken Riley Act- choosing illegal criminals over Floridians' safety, " the Florida GOP said. "Laken Riley could have been a Floridian. They don’t care. We do."
The ad slams Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto for siding with the "radical fringe" instead of "incident victims." Frost represents Florida's 10th congressional district which includes part of Orlando while Soto represents the 9th congressional district which also includes part of Orlando.
The Laken Riley Act passed through Congress by a 263-156 vote in January. Frost and Soto were two of seven Florida Democrats who voted against the bill.
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz was the only Florida Democrat who voted for the bill. Eighteen Florida Republicans voted in favor, including Rep. Byron Donalds, who recently announced his candidacy for state governor.
Forty-six Democrats joined 217 Republicans voting in favor of the legislation.
The Senate previously passed the bill 64-35. Florida Sen. Rick Scott and former Sen. Marco Rubio joined 52 Republicans and 12 Democrats in its passage.
President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Jan. 29.
The Laken Riley Act is named for Laken Riley, a 22-year-old college student who was murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant while jogging in Athens, Georgia. The man was convicted of the killing last November and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Donald Trump honored Laken Riley's mother and sister during his joint address to Congress last week. Despite the tragedy, many Democrats refused to stand and applaud the family, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
