In its first legislative action of the 119th Congress, the House of Representatives voted 264-159 on Tuesday to pass the Laken Riley Act, requiring federal agents to detain illegal immigrants suspected of committing non-violent crimes. The bill, named after Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was tragically murdered last year by an illegal immigrant, garnered bipartisan support, with 48 Democrats joining 216 Republicans in favor of the legislation.
Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.), who represents Riley’s district and introduced the bill, expressed gratitude for its passage. “No family should have to go through what Laken’s has endured,” he said. “It’s now up to the Senate to work together to put this crucial legislation on President Trump’s desk.”
This marks a critical juncture for the bill, which stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate last year despite support from 37 House Democrats. The legislation now moves to a GOP-controlled Senate, where momentum is building.
Bipartisan Senate Support Grows
Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have joined Republican colleagues in backing the measure, signaling a potential shift in bipartisan cooperation on immigration enforcement. Both Fetterman and Peters represent swing states that President-elect Donald Trump carried in November’s election against Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I support a secure border. I support a legal path for Dreamers. I support the Laken Riley Act,” Fetterman said Tuesday on social media platform X, citing statistics from ICE that tens of thousands of migrants with criminal records, including homicide and sexual assault, remain in the U.S.
Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is leading the Republican Senate push for the bill. On Tuesday, Britt introduced companion legislation with Fetterman, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), and the entire GOP Senate caucus.
A Personal Tragedy Sparks National Action
Laken Riley’s murder by Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra has drawn national attention to immigration policy and border security. Ibarra, who crossed the southern border before receiving a taxpayer-funded flight to New York City and later to Georgia, was sentenced to life in prison in November.
Riley’s mother and stepfather, Allyson and John Phillips, described their daughter as “a beautiful, shining beacon” whose faith and kindness touched everyone she met. “Congress has an obligation to Laken, her family, and families across the country to do everything in our power to help prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again,” Britt said.
Path to Passage
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill Friday. To overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold, Britt and other GOP leaders will need to secure additional Democratic support. With Fetterman, Peters, and other swing-state Democrats on board, proponents of the bill are cautiously optimistic.
“The American people delivered a clear mandate in November,” Britt said. “They want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families. We will soon see if Senate Democrats respect and act on that mandate.”
President-elect Trump has vowed to prioritize immigration enforcement and mass deportations after taking office later this month, signaling a stark departure from the Biden administration’s border policies.
Broader Implications
The Laken Riley Act has reignited debates about immigration, crime, and public safety. While Republicans view the bill as a necessary step to prevent further tragedies, critics argue it could disproportionately target non-violent offenders and strain federal resources.
