The Senate overcame the filibuster to approve an amended version of the Laken Riley Act on Monday, sending the bill back to the House for passage before it can head to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval.
The GOP-controlled Senate voted 64–35 to pass the legislation, with twelve Democrats joining all 53 Republicans in voting for it, a reflection of the strong public support for curtailing illegal immigration and deterring migrant crime.
The GOP-controlled House will vote on the amended version of the bill; it is expected to pass easily, making its way to the president for final approval. The bill will join a slate of Trump’s early actions meant to shut down the chaos at the southern border and to begin mass deportations.
The Laken Riley Act empowers federal authorities to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft and other related crimes until they are deported. States will also be able to file legal challenges against members of the federal government if they neglect their duty to enforce immigration law.
The bill is named after nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela last year while she was out jogging at the University of Georgia’s campus. Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra was convicted of murder in her killing, as well kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and for being a “peeping Tom.” He was sentenced to life in prison.
Senator Katie Britt (R., Ala.) introduced the Senate version of the legislation and all of the chamber’s Republicans have co-sponsored it. Representative Mike Collins (R., Ga.), whose district encompasses the location where Riley was murdered, introduced the House version of the bill that easily passed at the start of this Congress.
“The Senate just passed the Laken Riley Act. This critical legislation will strengthen public safety and protect our communities. I’m looking forward to President Trump signing this life-saving legislation,” Britt said on X Monday night.
“Laken Riley’s murder was a devastating and senseless tragedy, and we must take action to ensure other American families do not have to endure such unthinkable loss at the hands of criminal illegal aliens,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.).
“This legislation will make certain illegal aliens who commit crimes are arrested and removed from our country, and it will also give states the power to sue federal officials who refuse to enforce the law. I’m grateful my colleagues voted to make our communities safer, save lives, and prevent avoidable tragedies.”
Earlier this month, dozens of Senate Democrats joined Republicans in advancing the Laken Riley Act, with Democrats making it known that they wanted to amend certain aspects of the legislation. Democrats were unsuccessful in their attempt to modify the bill, but Republican senators last week approved amendments that increase the kinds of crime that trigger detention. Senator John Cornyn (R., Texas) inserted an amendment that makes assaulting a law-enforcement officer worthy of detention, and Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) did the same for acts that cause death or bodily harm.
Senators Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.) and John Fetterman (D., Pa.), whose states both voted for Trump this past November, co-sponsored the bill.
Along with Fetterman and Gallego, both Georgia Senate Democrats, Warnock and Ossoff, voted for the measure. Democratic Senators Hassan (N.H.), Kelly (Ariz.), Peters (Mich.), Rosen (Nev.), Shaheen (N.H.), Slotkin (Mich.), Warner (Va.), and Cortez Masto (Nev.) also backed the bill.
Riley’s untimely death received national attention last year and brought fresh scrutiny to former president Joe Biden’s permissive approach to the southern border. Biden oversaw record levels of illegal immigration during his term and numerous high-profile instances of illegal immigrants committing brutal violent crimes.