The House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Tuesday, the first legislation approved in the new Congress.
The bill passed by a vote of 264 to 159 and heads to the GOP-controlled Senate.
All voting Republicans and 48 Democrats approved the legislation.
#BREAKING: The US House has just PASSED the Laken Riley Act, which would force detention for illegal immigrants arrested for shoplifting and other crimes
HUGE step in the right direction!
But 159 Democrats voted against it.
WHY? pic.twitter.com/vJd7OzuAIp
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 7, 2025
Fox News reports:
The bill is named after a nursing student who was killed by an illegal immigrant while jogging on the University of Georgia’s campus.
The bill would require federal immigration authorities to detain illegal immigrants found guilty of theft-related crimes. It also would allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused to their citizens because of illegal immigration.
Jose Ibarra, who was sentenced to life in prison for Riley’s murder, had previously been arrested but was never detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, the agency previously said.
ADVERTISEMENTSeveral first-term House Democrats crossed the aisle on the bill, including Reps. Derek Tran, D-Calif., John Mannion, D-N.Y., and Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., all of whom won close races against Republican incumbents for their seats.
The bill passed the House along bipartisan lines last year after it was first introduced by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.
BREAKING.
The 119th Congress has passed its first bill: The Laken Riley Act.
“[T]he Laken Riley Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Collins, holds the Biden Administration accountable for their role in these tragedies through their open border policies, requires detention of illegal… pic.twitter.com/lyN55ofgGa
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) January 7, 2025
These are the names of the 159 Dems who voted against the Laken Riley Act (detains illegals over theft). Pass it on. pic.twitter.com/KLVbNVXnNb
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 7, 2025
“What in the world? 159 Democrats voted against the Laken Riley act. Why would you in favor of rapists and murderers?” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) said.
What in the world? 159 Democrats voted against the Laken Riley act. Why would you in favor of rapists and murderers? pic.twitter.com/RDQfds8PI0
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) January 7, 2025
From The Hill:
Tuesday’s vote marked the second time in a year that the House cleared the legislation. Republicans and a small group of Democrats approved the bill in March, but it languished amid opposition in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
With Republicans now holding majorities in both chambers, and President-elect Trump set to be sworn in to the White House later this month, GOP lawmakers are making another attempt at moving the measure.
“We’ve been very focused on border security; the Laken Riley Act makes it clear, if you’re committing crimes in America against people, it’s not going to be tolerated,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday. “Now with [Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)] saying he’s gonna bring it up in the Senate as early as this week, we can actually get that bill signed into law.”
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Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) became the first Senate Democrat to sponsor the Laken Riley Act this week.
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