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House Passes Laken Riley Act 264-159, Senate to Vote on Bill Requiring Detention of Undocumented Immigrants

Jan 8, 2025, 09:12 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Tuesday with a vote of 264-159, marking it as the first piece of legislation approved by the 119th Congress. The bill, named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was murdered in 2024 by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant sentenced to life without parole, aims to require the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It also empowers state attorneys general to sue the federal government for alleged failures in immigration enforcement. The legislation received support from all voting Republicans and 48 Democrats. The bill is now set to be considered by the Senate, where it is expected to face a vote to begin debate. Several Democrats, including Senators John Fetterman, Ruben Gallego, Mark Kelly, and others, have indicated their support for the bill, suggesting it may have enough votes to overcome a filibuster and proceed to a final vote. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the motion to proceed on Thursday, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer signaling openness to allowing the bill to move forward for debate and potential amendments. The bill was reintroduced by Senators Katie Britt and Ted Budd, with Senator Jon Ossoff expressing support, while Senator Raphael Warnock has indicated he will vote to begin debate but has not committed to final passage.