Senate Advances Laken Riley Act With 82-10 Vote, Seeks Amendments for Bipartisan Support

Jan 13, 2025, 10:56 PM

The U.S. Senate has advanced the Laken Riley Act with an 82-10 vote, a bill aimed at mandating the detention of illegal immigrants charged with theft-related crimes. Named after Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student murdered by an illegal immigrant in 2024, the legislation has garnered bipartisan support. Key Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin have advocated for amendments to the bill. The Act seeks to empower state attorneys general and district court judges with greater control over immigration enforcement, potentially leading to the detention of immigrants charged with crimes such as theft, burglary, and shoplifting. Critics, including Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, have expressed concerns over the bill's potential to overwhelm ICE detention facilities and its impact on legal immigration, while supporters argue it is essential for public safety. The bill's passage in the Senate is expected to be followed by a final vote next week.