WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Laken Riley Act, modifying immigration policies ahead of the new White House administration taking office.
Georgia Rep. Mike Collins introduced the legislation last year, and reintroduced it for the 119th Congress, aimed at addressing what he said were failures of the Biden administration’s border policies in response to Laken Riley’s death in Athens in February 2024. She was killed on the University of Georgia campus while jogging.
“If you polled the populace and the voters, they would tell you that that was the top of the list, and we have a lot to do there to fix it. It’s an absolute disaster because of what has happened over the last four years, and the Laken Riley Act is a big part of that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told ABC News on Tuesday.
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Venezuelan undocumented migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra was accused, and convicted, of her murder, though he is appealing the conviction.
Under the bill, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would have to detain non-U.S. nationals who are arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.
The bill also allows states to sue the U.S. government for decisions or alleged failures to enforce immigration law, according to the bill summary.
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Additionally, DHS must detain any individuals who are unlawfully in the U.S. or who did not have the necessary documents to apply for admission, and has been charged with, arrested for, or admits to having committed acts that “constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.”
Americans can also sue the government if they suffer a financial harm of more than $100, according to the bill’s provisions.
When the bill was introduced, Laken Riley’s family said it had their full endorsement, according to reporting by ABC News.
It is unclear if the bill will pass in the U.S. Senate. It needs 60 votes to pass, and while Republicans have a 53-vote majority, the needed votes to send the bill to the president’s desk are not yet confirmed, other than Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman, ABC News reported.
Soon after the bill passed in the U.S. House, Rep. Collins shared a statement from the Riley family online, written by Allyson Phillips, Laken’s mother, and her stepfather John Phillips.
“It’s impossible to fully describe what was taken from Laken and our family on February 22, 2024. Laken’s life was abundantly and exceptionally full of promise. She was a beautiful, shining beacon in the life of everyone who knew her. Not only did the people who knew and loved Laken lose a beautiful soul, but so did our world. Laken shared her love for Jesus with everyone she encountered. Laken’s passion for sharing her faith through acts of kindness were felt by everyone she met. Laken was selfless, hardworking and made those around her feels special. Laken did not just talk about her faith, she led by example.
The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of heartbreak we’ve experienced. Laken would have been 23 on January 10th. There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill. Every single member of Congress should be able to get behind this purely common sense bill that will make our communities safer.”
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