The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Laken Riley Act” by a vote of 251-170.
Named after a 22-year-old Georgia woman murdered by an illegal immigrant, the bill would require detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants charged with theft.
All Republicans and 37 Democrats voted for the measure, while 170 Democrats opposed it over concerns about detainee rights.
“170 House Democrats just voted against the Laken Riley Act, refusing to require the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants who have been caught committing a crime,” Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X. “Sadly, if these Democrats have their way, there will be more victims like Laken Riley.”
The “Laken Riley Act” would “require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes.”
“IT’S OFFICIAL: The Laken Riley Act has passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis. 37 Democrats joined all Republicans in support of this bill and condemning Joe Biden’s handling of our southern border!” said Rep. Mike Collins. “I now urge the Senate to take up this bill immediately. Please help us ensure justice for Laken and give ICE more tools to detain and deport criminal illegal aliens before they commit more serious crimes.”
The legislation aims to prevent future crimes like Laken Riley’s murder by mandating Homeland Security take custody of immigrants charged with theft.
It also allows states to sue the federal government if released immigrants harm residents. Laken’s suspected killer had previously been released despite theft charges in New York and Georgia.
Supporters say President Biden should denounce lax immigration policies that enabled her death and secure borders to prevent similar murders by ending catch-and-release of criminal undocumented migrants.
“To have someone detained without that due process, I think is un-American,” Rep. Ro Khanna said.
“The Biden administration should not have released Laken Riley’s alleged murderer into the United States; The Biden administration should have arrested and detained Laken Riley’s alleged murderer after he was charged with crimes in New York, New York, and Athens, Georgia; President Biden should publicly denounce his administration’s immigration policies that resulted in the murder of Laken Riley; and President Biden should prevent another murder like that of Laken Riley by ending the catch-and-release of illegal aliens, increasing immigration enforcement, detaining and removing criminal aliens, reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy, ending his abuse of parole authority, and securing the United States borders,” the bill states.
The bill now moves to the Senate.
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