The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Laken Riley Act” on Thursday, a bill that would require federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants who have been charged with theft in the United States.
By a vote of 251-170, the House approved the bill that is named after Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was brutally murdered allegedly by an illegal immigrant while she was out for a run last month. All voting Republicans and 37 Democrats helped pass the bill while 170 Democrats voted against it.
“170 House Democrats just voted against the Laken Riley Act, refusing to require the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants who have been caught committing a crime,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) postedto X. “Sadly, if these Democrats have their way, there will be more victims like Laken Riley.”
In particular, the “Laken Riley Act” would “require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes.”
“IT’S OFFICIAL: The Laken Riley Act has passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis. 37 Democrats joined all Republicans in support of this bill and condemning Joe Biden’s handling of our southern border!” said Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who introduced the legislation. “I now urge the Senate to take up this bill immediately. Please help us ensure justice for Laken and give ICE more tools to detain and deport criminal illegal aliens before they commit more serious crimes.”
