Senators on Thursday cleared the final filibuster test for the Laken Riley Act, setting up a final vote on legislation that would push the administration to detain and try to deport even lower-level criminal migrants.

The 60-35 vote was bipartisan and underscored the shifting politics of immigration after four years of border chaos.

The bill is named after a Georgia nursing student slain last year by an illegal immigrant caught and released under Biden administration policies and who amassed a criminal record here before killing Riley. Among those arrests was one for shoplifting.

The legislation would push Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants who commit shoplifting, burglary or theft offenses. The bill would also give state attorneys general standing to sue in federal court if federal officials aren’t properly carrying out immigration laws.

The bill is the first to be considered by the new GOP majority in the Senate, and lawmakers said that was no accident.

“Let’s do right by the American people. Let’s heed their call, help keep them safe,” said Sen. Katie Britt, Alabama Republican and chief sponsor of the bill.

Now that it has cleared the final filibuster test, the bill faces a final vote — but that requires only a majority and is a foregone conclusion.

A largely similar measure already passed the House.

The Senate has been debating the measure for most of the week. During that time, it stiffened the deportation provisions and fended off an attempt by Democrats to weaken the bill.

In a 70-25 vote, senators adopted an amendment that pushes detention and deportation of illegal immigrants who assault law enforcement officers.

“Anyone who comes into the country illegally and harms these brave men and women in uniform is dangerous,” said Sen. John Cornyn, the Texas Republican who sponsored the amendment.

Democrats tried to erase the bill’s provisions allowing state attorneys general to sue to force federal officials to adhere to the letter of immigration law.

Sen. Chris Coons, the Delaware Democrat who sponsored the amendment, said he feared the lawsuits would lead to “chaos” in the immigration system.

The Senate rejected his idea on a 49-46 party-line vote.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.