WASHINGTON – The US House of Representatives passed its first legislation for the 119th Congress on Tuesday. This is a measure to increase immigrant detention and is named after a Georgia nursing student who has been repeatedly linked to President Donald Trump, who has been repeatedly linked to the Biden administration’s immigration policy.
“As promised, today we’re starting with border security,” U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a press conference Tuesday.
“If you vote for the public and voters, they’ll tell you it’s at the top of the list, and we’re doing a lot there to fix it,” Louisiana said. Republicans said. “Because of what’s happened over the last four years, it’s an absolute disaster, and the Laken Riley Act is a big part of that.”
Riley, 22, was on the run when her roommates worried after she didn’t return home. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old immigrant from Venezuela, was convicted of murder last month. According to US immigration and customs enforcement, Ibarra is said to have illegally entered the country in 2022.
bill, HR 29passed 264-159, 48 Democrats joined the Republicans. The scale is also The last Congress passed the house on a bipartisan basis37 Democrats are voting on the GOP.
It stagnated in the Senate when Chuck Schumer, the then-majority leader of New York, did not bring it to the floor for the vote.
That will probably change. Republicans who currently control the Senate are expected to raise the bill this week. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt is the lead sponsor of that room for fellow House bills. S. 5.
The Senate version has already gained bipartisanship supportsupport of Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
Additionally, Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters said he would support the bill if he voted in the Senate.
“We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure our borders and keep people safe in our country,” he said in an interview with States Newsroom. .
If the bill goes above the Senate 60-vote threshold, it is likely that it will be signed to the law after Trump is launched on January 20th. But it is not yet clear how many Republicans support it.
DHS detention, AG lawsuit
Ibarra, a man convicted of Riley’s murder, was arrested for driving a scooter without a license and shoplifting a scooter. The bill requires the US Department of Homeland Security to detain immigrants (even people of legal status) who have been charged with local theft, robbery or shoplifting.
The state’s attorney general may also file a civil suit against the federal government for breaching detention or removal procedures “that causes harm to such state or its residents.”
Rep. Mike Collins, who sponsored the bill, represents the district where Riley’s family lives.
“The law could have prevented her from passing,” the Georgia Republican said Tuesday. “We have to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
During the discussion, Collins read a statement from the Riley family.
“Leken would have been January 23rd on the 10th,” Collins read from the statement. “There is no greater gift that can be given to her or our country than continuing her legacy by saving lives through this bill.”
“Opportunism in the sky”
Maryland Democrat Jamie Ruskin criticized the measure and argued that if it becomes law it would raise questions about the legitimate process as it would require immigration detention based on accusations or arrests. did.
“Their bill today is an opportunistic measure,” Ruskin said in discussions Tuesday.
“The bill would postpone the 28-year forced immigrant detention policy, whether undocumented immigrants arrested for theft, theft or shoplifting, even if they are detained or charged with a crime.”
Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the bill did not amend the US immigration system.
“In the process, it unfairly wipes out more innocent lives without justification,” she said.
Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.
Last updated at 12:42pm, February 4, 2025
