The GOP is ready to force Democrats into another tough and divisive vote on immigration, just a week after Congress passed the Laken Riley Act.

• Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) will reintroduce a bill tomorrow to impose harsher penalties on migrants who try to illegally recross into the U.S. after being removed, sources tell us.

Zoom in: The bill is sometimes called "Kate's Law," named after a 32-year-old woman killed on a San Francisco pier by an undocumented immigrant who had felony convictions and was removed from the U.S. five times.

• Committees in both chambers are expected to move fast on the legislation.
• Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has already signed on.
• Majority Leader John Thune has yet to weigh in but has shown an eagerness to force Dems into tough votes — first on immigration and crime and next on ICC sanctions.

Between the lines: Senate Democrats are deadlocked over how to handle these tough votes.

• 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats voted with Republicans on the Laken Riley Act. It requires ICE to detain tens of thousands more undocumented immigrants charged or convicted of various crimes.
• A group of Democrats are pushing Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for a clear top-down strategy, as we first scooped.

Zoom in: The bill increases the fines and maximum prison sentences that migrants can face if they attempt to illegally cross the border after being removed or deported.

• A migrant who crosses more than once would face up to five years in prison, and one who attempts to cross illegally could face up to 10 years.
• The bill also requires a minimum of five years in prison for anyone who has multiple convictions or was convicted of an aggravated felony and then tries to illegally reenter the country.

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— Stef Kight

Top House Democrats think President Trump broke the law when he fired 19 internal watchdogs last week. Now they're preparing to fight back.

Why it matters: The ousters — the legality of which have been questioned even by some Republicans — present the first major test of congressional Democrats' ability to counter Trump while in the minority.

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has positioned himself as the new leader of the resistance.
• A spokesperson for Jeffries, asked for comment on the firings, referred to a letter from his committee ranking members blasting them as illegal.

What they're saying: "Everything is on the table at this point," House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told us today.

• Oversight Committee ranking member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told us, "We can have minority witnesses at hearings, we can have our own independent roundtables, we can have minority reports."

Zoom in: Trump on Friday reportedly fired at least 12 inspectors general — with some reports putting the number at 18 and Connolly telling us he believes it's 19.

• IGs act as internal watchdogs within federal agencies charged with investigating corruption or misconduct.
• Trump often clashed with and ousted IGs during his first term, leading Congress to pass a law in 2022 requiring presidents to provide Congress with 30 days' notice and a "substantial rationale" for such firings.
• Several top lawmakers proposed bolstering the ousted inspectors general in an expected court battle against Trump.

The bottom line: Democrats are clear-eyed that the GOP ultimately holds the real tools — appropriations and subpoenas — for keeping the executive branch in check.

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Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is taking concrete steps to run for governor of New Mexico, with a formal announcement expected in the coming weeks.

• Haaland has hired Scott Forrester as her campaign manager and is assembling a team of veteran political operatives with New Mexican and national experience, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters to Schumer: Haaland will avoid a showdown with Sen. Martin Heinrich, who announced last week that he'll stay in the Senate.

• "We need Martin Heinrich in the Senate, and I'm very glad he has chosen to stay," Schumer said.
• Leaders in both parties are concerned about losing incumbents to governors' races.
• Heinrich told Semafor last week that it was too early for him to make an endorsement in the race.

Zoom in: Progressive groups are excited about the possibility of a Haaland candidacy.

• "As a 35th-generation New Mexican and an accomplished leader who knows how to deliver results for New Mexico, Secretary Haaland would be a phenomenal candidate for governor," said Yari Aquino, director of campaign communications at EMILYs List.

— Hans Nichols

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The longer a leader is in power, the less popular they seem to get.

• Thune is five points underwater, now that he has some favorability polling under his belt.
• In November, his predecessor Mitch McConnell was at -40! (not a typo).