The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Laken Riley Act with a 263-156 vote, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. The vote marks a significant legislative victory for the president and reflects bipartisan momentum for stronger immigration enforcement measures.
The legislation, named after 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detain non-U.S. nationals arrested for theft-related crimes, regardless of their immigration status. The act passed both chambers of Congress with support from members of both parties, signaling broad concern about gaps in the current immigration enforcement system.
JUST NOW: The House has passed S.5–The @RepMikeCollins Laken Riley Act.
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) January 22, 2025
This bill ensures ALL CRIMINAL ILLEGALS like Laken Riley's murderer will be arrested, detained & eventually REPATRIATED.
S.5 will advance to the President's desk & BECOME LAW.
156 DEMOCRATS STILL VOTED NO. pic.twitter.com/Hd138m6lR3
The Hill reports:
“Today, we’re going to send to President Trump’s desk his very first bill to sign into law,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said on Wednesday.
The White House has not announced if there will be a signing ceremony for the bill; the president is set to leave for North Carolina on Friday.
The bill requires the detention of a broad swath of migrants without legal status, including those permitted to enter the U.S. to seek asylum, if they have been accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting.
…
But the sweeping bill has alarmed critics, who object to the provision requiring a person be detained after being charged for a crime, rather than after they are convicted.
A Tragic Inspiration
Laken Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was murdered on Feb. 22, 2024, while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Her body was discovered in Oconee Forest Park near Lake Herrick. She had been brutally killed by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.
The man convicted of her murder, José Antonio Ibarra, entered the U.S. illegally from Venezuela in September 2022. Authorities arrested Ibarra for shoplifting before his fatal attack. He was apprehended shortly after Riley’s death and later found guilty of felony murder, malice murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault with intent to rape and other charges. Ibarra received a life sentence without the possibility of parole in November 2024. Riley’s murder ignited widespread public outcry and calls for stricter immigration controls, culminating in the creation of the bill bearing her name.
Supporters of the Laken Riley Act argue that it closes critical loopholes that allow dangerous individuals to remain in the country despite criminal activity. Proponents view the measure as a necessary step toward safeguarding American communities.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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