The Laken Riley Act overwhelmingly advanced in an 82-10 vote that brought the bill one step closer to final passage after passing a test vote in the upper chamber last week. It would require federal authorities to detain illegal immigrants charged, arrested, or convicted of theft-related crimes until deportation.

But the measure, which cleared the Republican-controlled House last week, is far from being passed in the GOP-led Senate and will eventually require buy-in from at least seven Democrats to clear another 60-vote filibuster.

“We have to have amendments. This bill does not work as-is. It creates more problems than it solves,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), the Democratic architect of a bipartisan border security bill last year. “It is a massive, unfunded mandate.”

Most Democrats say their support is conditional on making changes like requiring a conviction and exempting minors and so-called Dreamers who came to the United States illegally as children. The bill would also empower states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm to citizens caused by illegal immigration, prompting concerns from Democrats of politically charged litigation from Republican state attorneys general.

The legislation was named after the 22-year-old nursing student killed last year while jogging at the University of Georgia by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant who was previously arrested but released. 

Critics say the bill could also result in a judge barring visas from entire countries at the request of Republican states.

“Bonkers. It’s bonkers,” Murphy called the provision.

Several Senate Democrats declined to say what specific changes would need to be made to secure their support on final passage, citing a lack of clarity from party leaders on which amendments they should prioritize. Some filed their own amendments Monday, including from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to allow certain illegal immigrants to enlist in the armed forces and for the DHS secretary to establish a veterans visa program for those who were deported to return to the U.S.

Amendments from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) would require more border security technology to be deployed and to allocate $1 billion for additional assets along the U.S.-Canada border.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) cited due process concerns for migrants accused but not convicted of crimes, using the hypothetical scenario of a minor who may be charged with something as minuscule as stealing a candy bar.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TRUMP’S MASS DEPORTATION PLAN

“We should do everything possible to make sure this type of tragedy never occurs again,” Durbin said. “But I do have concerns about some of the language in this legislation.”

Republicans will also seek their own changes. An amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), for example, seeks to codify the inclusion of “death or serious bodily injury” to the list of offenses that would mandate detention.