U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at her swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
New U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) defended her vote to pass the Laken Riley Act during a ceremonial swearing-in event in Flint on Monday.
McDonald Rivet was one of just 46 Democrats tovote for the bill in the GOP-controlled U.S. House, which wouldrequire the detention of any migrant charged with theft or violent crimes.
“We want to make sure that we have an immigration system that is fair, fast and finite. So if you want to come to this country and you want to abide by our laws and contribute to society, there should be a solid path for you,” McDonald Rivet said. “But if you violate our laws, particularly with violent crimes, then there should be a deportation hearing.”
Critics of the bill have expressed concern that it would strip due process rights for migrants, who could face deportation as a result of being charged with a crime, even if their case had not yet gone to trial.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) were among 12 Democrats to vote for the bill in theSenate. President Donald Trump willis expected to sign the bill into law.
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at her swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at her swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at her swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, attends the swearing-in ceremony of his successor, U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Bay City Commissioner Joseph Rivet, left, and U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, right, at McDonald Rivet’s swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Bay City Commissioner Joseph Rivet, left, and U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, right, at McDonald Rivet’s swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton speaks during the swearing-in ceremony of U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, attends the swearing-in ceremony of his successor, U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, left, repeats her oath of office during a swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025, while her husband, Bay City Commissioner Joseph Rivet, center, holds a Bible. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at her swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, left, repeats her oath of office during a swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025, while her husband, Bay City Commissioner Joseph Rivet, center, holds a Bible. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan state Rep. Cynthia Neeley, D-Flint, left, and Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, right, attend the swearing-in ceremony of U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at her swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan state Rep. Cynthia Neeley, D-Flint, left, and Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, right, attend the swearing-in ceremony of U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, attends the swearing-in ceremony of his successor, U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at her swearing-in ceremony in Flint, Mich., on Jan. 27, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
McDonald Rivet, who was elected in November to succeed former U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) indicated that additional reforms to the immigration system are needed.
“We can make the investments necessary to secure our border, modernize our broken legal immigration system and treat everybody with dignity, all at the same time,” McDonald Rivet said.
But the freshman Democrat said that her primary focus in Congress will be on policies that would cut costs for working class families, including cutting taxes, lowering prescription drug prices and increasing housing stock.
“This congressional office is not defined by one person, but rather the progress we can achieve when we join together with a common purpose, when we listen to each other and when we build consensus around common sense ideas that actually make things better,” McDonald Rivet said.
McDonald Rivet touted her positions on the House Agriculture Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, saying the assignments mean she will “be in a strong position to fight for farmers, roads, waterways and good paying jobs.”
“That’s the agenda. Commonsense, no-nonsense, working people first,” McDonald Rivet said.
