With a majority in both congressional chambers, Republicans aim to push through several measures that failed to pass in the last Congress.
One of those measures is the Laken Riley Act, which would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
The legislation also authorizes states to sue the federal government for failing to enforce immigration law.
The measure is named after Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was found dead on the University of Georgia’s campus.
26-year-old Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Riley.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) became the first Senate Democrat to sponsor the bill.
“John Fetterman is the first Senate Dem to sponsor the Laken Riley Act, the bill that would give ICE more authority to detain undocumented immigrants accused of crimes,” Punchbowl News congressional reporter Max Cohen said.
“Britt + Budd leading push in the Senate and there are 51 total cosponsors,” he added.
News: John Fetterman is the first Senate Dem to sponsor the Laken Riley Act, the bill that would give ICE more authority to detain undocumented immigrants accused of crimes.
Britt + Budd leading push in the Senate and there are 51 total cosponsors https://t.co/4ID33u075F
— Max Cohen (@maxpcohen) January 7, 2025
Fox News reports:
It was first introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., in March and in the Senate by Britt.
The latest bill has amassed co-sponsors totaling more than half of the U.S. Senate, including the entire Republican Senate conference and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., whose addition made it a bipartisan measure.
However, the bill never received a Senate floor vote relating to the standalone legislation.
Republicans have an incoming trifecta in the federal government, unified in its prioritization of the southern border and tackling illegal immigration, and GOP lawmakers see a big opportunity to push through key legislation.
“Last year, Laken Riley was stolen from this earth—from her family and friends and from achieving her dreams—by a brutal, heartless killer. Make no mistake—he never should have been in the United States, much less allowed to freely roam American streets after being charged with multiple crimes. Laken’s murder was the direct consequence of willful open border policies,” Britt said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“This bill sells itself, but I will be living in the Senate hallways until it passes if need be. Very grateful for
@SenFettermanPA. Now we need Georgia’s Senators to step up,” Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) said.
This bill sells itself, but I will be living in the Senate hallways until it passes if need be. Very grateful for @SenFettermanPA. Now we need Georgia’s Senators to step up. https://t.co/GD8tTeFpFs
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) January 7, 2025
From the Washington Times:
Sen. Katie Britt, Alabama Republican, announced a Senate version of the bill on Tuesday and Rep. Mike Collins, Georgia Republican, announced the House version.
House GOP leaders have already slated it for a floor vote on Tuesday, and given the backing of new Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the bill will likely see fast action in the upper chamber, too.
Riley, a nursing student in Georgia, was slain last year by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who was caught and released by the Biden administration and was protected by sanctuary-city policies that allowed him to amass a lengthy rap sheet while free in the U.S.
The killing helped elevate illegal immigration, already a simmering issue, into a crisis for the Biden administration and a powerful political message for Republicans.
“The American people did not just deliver a mandate on November 5, they delivered a verdict. They made it clear they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families. We will soon know whether Democrats hear, respect and obey that verdict,” Ms. Britt said.