The House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Wednesday, marking a significant victory for President Donald Trump and Republicans on immigration reform. The bill, which is set to become law, was approved by the House in a 263-156 vote. This comes just two days after the Senate passed the measure with bipartisan support, in a 64-35 vote.
Named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student tragically killed by a Venezuelan migrant who was paroled into the country, the bill mandates the detention of individuals without legal status, including those seeking asylum, if they are charged with certain crimes such as theft, burglary, or shoplifting. The bill’s passage in the House marks the first piece of legislation to reach Trump’s desk since his return to the White House earlier this week.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) celebrated the passage, saying, “Today, we’re going to send to President Trump’s desk his very first bill to sign into law.” The White House has not confirmed if there will be a signing ceremony, as the president is scheduled to depart for North Carolina on Friday.
This bill has garnered significant attention due to its provisions for the detention of individuals after being charged, rather than convicted, of a crime. Critics, including House Judiciary Chair Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), have raised concerns that the bill could unfairly detain people who are later found innocent. Raskin argued that someone who has lived in the U.S. for years, paid taxes, and built a life could face deportation if wrongly accused of a crime like shoplifting, even if the charges are dropped.
The Laken Riley Act's journey to passage began in March 2024, when the House first approved the bill, following Riley's tragic death. While the bill stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate, it gained momentum after Republicans took control of the Senate in January 2025. The Senate passed a version of the bill with two amendments: one from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), which includes assaulting a law enforcement officer as grounds for detention, and another from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), known as Sarah’s Law, which expands the scope of detainment to include individuals charged with crimes resulting in death or serious injury.
The measure now heads back to the House for final approval, where it passed with support from 12 Democrats, splitting the party on this key issue. Immigration and border security were central issues in the 2024 election, with Trump frequently discussing the death of Laken Riley on the campaign trail and blaming the Biden administration for its handling of immigration policy.
In November, after the conviction of the Venezuelan migrant responsible for Riley’s death, Trump weighed in on the case, calling the verdict “justice.” The president’s focus on immigration is evident in his early executive actions, including new border restrictions and an order declaring migration a national security threat.
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