Laken Riley Act passes House vote, heads to Trump's desk
Share and Follow


() The House of Representatives passed the final version of the Laken Riley Act on Wednesday, a piece of legislation that ties into President Donald Trump’s larger agenda on immigration.

The bill previously passed the House but the Senate made changes, so it had to go back to the House for a vote, which it passed.

The chamber cleared the bill in a 263-156 vote. Passage in the House came two days after the Senate approved the measure in a bipartisan 64-35 vote.

Introduced following the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, the bill says if someone who is in the country illegally is arrested for, charged with or found guilty of a crime that’s not a major felony but is larceny, theft, shoplifting or similar, Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be required to detain that individual.

Jose Ibarra, who was found guilty of murdering Riley, had been accused of shoplifting but was not detained by ICE.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spoke on the bill’s importance Wednesday morning along with Trump’s larger plan for immigration.

“What he’s doing is kickstarting what will ultimately be our legislative agenda and you’re going to begin to see that. The Laken Riley Act is a perfect example,” Johnson said. “The president will have that on his desk for signature and that’s the first of many bills that will be addressing all these great concerns.”

Several Democrats have raised concerns about the bill, saying it eliminates due process for people who should get certain rights, including those who may be part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., has made immigration and protections for DACA recipients one of her priorities in Congress.

“What they’re voting for is saying, it doesn’t matter if someone falsely accuses a 12-year-old of stealing a Snickers or if a 12-year-old stole the Snickers, or if someone decided that they wanted to falsely accuse you and you get arrested,” she said. “If you’ve been accused, you are guilty.”

The bill has garnered controversy in areas where states or cities have sanctuary policies, with laws that say if state or local police arrest someone, they cannot be compelled to hand them over to federal authorities.

This bill would override those laws, forcing states to hand people over to ICE. If states feel the federal government is not complying, it also allows the state’s attorney general to sue cabinet members, which would be unprecedented.

Congress will now send the bill to Trump’s desk making it the first piece of legislation he signs in his second term.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Warning as popular update slashes the price of your home by $7,500

Popular Update Reduces Your Home Value by $7,500 – Be Cautious

While most people look to home improvements as a way to increase…
TSA ends shoe removal at select US airports: Reports

Reports indicate that TSA will no longer require passengers to remove shoes at certain US airports

The TSA has not officially announced the change. WASHINGTON — The Transportation…
Iowa mom honors late daughter with non-profit that empowers teen girls

Iowa mother creates non-profit in memory of her daughter to empower teenage girls

DES MOINES, Iowa — Ema Cardenas was walking home from school when…
Experts issue urgent warning over the 'hidden' risk of Texas floods

Experts raise alarm on the ‘unseen’ danger posed by Texas floods

Health experts have issued urgent warnings over deadly pathogens lurking in Texas…
Federal agents conduct immigration raid in Los Angeles despite fierce opposition from Democrat mayor

Federal agents conduct immigration raid in Los Angeles despite fierce opposition from Democrat mayor

Tom Homan condemns attacks on ICE: ‘The rhetoric has to stop’ Fox…
Trump says '60 Minutes' lawsuit settlement is more than Paramount claims

“Trump Claims Settlement in ’60 Minutes’ Lawsuit Exceeds Paramount’s Statement”

President Donald Trump confirmed that his settlement with Paramount Global exceeds the…
Whitney Purvis arrested: '16 and Pregnant' star charged with involuntary manslaughter

Whitney Purvis, from the show ’16 and Pregnant’, has been taken into custody for involuntary manslaughter.

The former reality TV star’s arrest is linked to a man’s fatal…
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, did not have client list: DOJ memo

Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, did not have client list: DOJ memo

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! This story discusses suicide.…