Official voting records from the U.S. Senate

First Bill of 119th Congress: 'Laken Riley Act' Aims to Strengthen ICE Powers Against Criminal Illegal Immigrants

Jan 7, 2025, 05:07 PM

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on the 'Laken Riley Act,' the first piece of legislation of the 119th Congress. The bill aims to enhance the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants charged with theft-related crimes, ensuring they are detained and transferred into ICE custody before they can commit further offenses. Named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, who was murdered nearly a year ago by an illegal immigrant with prior criminal charges for whom ICE had never issued a detainer, the Act seeks to prevent similar tragedies. The legislation also grants state attorneys general the power to sue the federal government if it fails to enforce immigration laws. The Act has garnered bipartisan support, with some Democrats, including Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Gary Peters (D-MI), expressing intention to support it in the Senate.