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Senate Advances Laken Riley Act With 82-10 Vote to Mandate Detention for Theft-Related Crimes by Undocumented Immigrants

Jan 13, 2025, 09:20 PM

The U.S. Senate has advanced the Laken Riley Act, a piece of legislation aimed at enhancing immigration enforcement, with an 82-10 vote. Named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant, the act seeks to mandate the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related crimes. The bill, which has garnered bipartisan support, passed the House last week and is now moving forward in the Senate, where it faces potential amendments from Democrats. Key figures such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Katie Britt have expressed strong support for the bill, emphasizing its role in enhancing public safety. Critics, including some Democrats, argue that the bill could lead to the indefinite detention of migrants and might overwhelm ICE facilities, while others worry about its impact on legal immigration and due process. ICE has warned that implementing the act could lead to the release of detained immigrants without additional resources, estimating a need for a $3.2 billion budget to expand detention capacity to 100,000 beds and identifying over 60,000 immigrants who would meet the criteria for detention. Senator John Fetterman has indicated support for the bill.