House Approves Laken Riley Act, Sending Immigration Bill on to President
WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday handily approved a bill that requires the detainment of illegal aliens who are subsequently accused of committing violent and other serious crimes.
The bill, called the Laken Riley Act, is named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant on the University of Georgia campus, by a vote of 263-156.
Forty-six Democrats voted for it.
The Senate had passed the measure earlier this week 64-35, with 12 Democrats voting for it.
As a result, the first bill President Donald Trump is expected to sign in his second term is a solid political victory for the White House, squarely in line with his mounting crackdown on illegal immigration.
As originally drafted, the act would have required Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take custody of and detain any illegal immigrants who had been charged, arrested or convicted for committing acts of “burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.”
The Senate approved two amendments before final passage.
The first, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, added assault of a law enforcement officer to the offenses that would trigger detention.
A second amendment, introduced by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, expanded the list still further to include the commission of any acts causing death or bodily harm.
Sen. Katie Britt, who reintrodued the Senate version of the bill in the 199th Congress, called the Act “perhaps the most significant immigration enforcement bill” to be passed by Congress in nearly three decades.”
“This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will save lives, and it will help prevent another American family from feeling the pain Laken Riley’s loved ones feel every day,” she said.
So far, the president has not commented on the passage of the bill, and it’s unclear if and when a signing ceremony for the bill might be held.
He is scheduled to depart the White House Friday morning to tour disaster-impacted areas in and around Asheville, North Carolina.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
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