House to Vote on Laken Riley Act, Senate to Follow; Bill Targets Illegal Immigrants Like Jose Ibarra

Jan 7, 2025, 04:30 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on the Laken Riley Act, a bill aimed at enhancing immigration enforcement by requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses until they are removed from the country. Named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student murdered by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant who was sentenced to life without parole, the legislation also allows states to sue federal officials for failing to enforce immigration laws. The bill, which passed the House last year with a 251-170 vote, reflecting bipartisan support, is expected to be voted on in both chambers this week, with the Senate poised to follow suit. Key figures such as Senators John Kennedy, Katie Britt, and John Fetterman, along with the entire Senate Republican Conference, have co-sponsored the bill in the Senate, indicating broad support across party lines.