House Passes Latest Version Of The Laken Riley Act
The GOP-led House just fired another shot in the ongoing battle to secure America’s borders and protect its citizens. On Wednesday, lawmakers passed the “Laken Riley Act,” a no-nonsense piece of legislation aimed at ensuring that illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the United States face immediate detention. The vote—263-156—was a decisive victory, with 46 Democrats breaking ranks to join Republicans. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk, where it’s expected to be signed into law.
Named after 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was brutally murdered last year by an illegal immigrant with a prior record, the act is as much about justice as it is about fixing systemic failures in immigration enforcement. Laken Riley’s tragic death has become a rallying cry for those who believe America’s open-border policies have gone too far and placed innocent lives in jeopardy. And let’s be clear: they’re not wrong.
My statement on final passage of The Laken Riley Act. Thank you @SenKatieBritt. Next up, @POTUS desk! pic.twitter.com/vw1LzItcZa
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) January 22, 2025
Under this legislation, illegal immigrants charged with theft-related crimes or violent offenses such as assaulting law enforcement officers or causing serious bodily harm would be subject to mandatory detention. No more catch-and-release. No more excuses. The bill also empowers states to hold federal officials accountable if their immigration policies directly harm citizens. This provision, predictably, has Democrats up in arms, with some claiming it’s an attack on due process. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it a giveaway to private prisons. But the reality is, this is about preventing future tragedies like Riley’s.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene didn’t mince words during debate. “We need as many prisons as it takes to round up these illegal aliens who are breaking our laws, killing our citizens, and destroying our communities,” she said. And really, who can argue with her? How many more lives have to be lost before America decides enough is enough?
Rep. @AOC on during Laken Riley Act debate: “When a private prison camp opens in your town and they say, ‘we didn’t know this was going to happen,’ know that they did and they voted for it.” pic.twitter.com/fim0j9FK0F
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 22, 2025
This bill isn’t some over-the-top reaction; it’s common sense. It’s a response to a federal system that failed Laken Riley and countless others. According to Rep. Mike Collins, who reintroduced the bill, Riley’s murder could have been prevented if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been allowed to do its job when her killer was first arrested for shoplifting. But under the previous administration, ICE was hamstrung by policies that prioritized political correctness over public safety. Those days are over.
Critics argue that this law could result in overreach, with non-citizens being detained for minor accusations. But let’s not kid ourselves: this isn’t about petty crimes. It’s about serious offenses that threaten lives, families, and communities. And while Democrats fret over seating arrangements at Trump’s inauguration or Elon Musk’s supposed “gestures,” Americans are demanding action to stop the carnage caused by unchecked illegal immigration.
.@RepMTG: “Well, I certainly hope we do open as many prisons as possible to round up as many illegal aliens that have invaded our country and those that are breaking our laws, killing our citizens, women and children, and causing complete havoc across our great land.” pic.twitter.com/DeSVFAsH9v
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 22, 2025
The Senate’s additions to the bill, like incorporating Sarah’s Law and provisions from the POLICE Act, only strengthen it. Sarah’s Law, named after Sarah Root, an Iowan killed by an illegal immigrant, requires ICE to take custody of illegals charged with serious crimes. These amendments are a direct response to the tragedies that have plagued families across the country. Democrats tried to water it down, but their amendment to restrict states’ ability to sue federal officials was rightly rejected.