WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a decisive vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act (H.R. 29) by a bipartisan margin of 264-159, marking the first legislative action for freshman Congressman Dave Taylor (R-OH). The bill, spearheaded by Representative Mike Collins (R-GA), seeks to tighten immigration enforcement and grant states more authority to hold the federal government accountable for lapses in immigration policy.
“The Laken Riley Act is a common sense, conservative bill that is critical for both our Southern Ohio communities and our entire Nation,” said Congressman Taylor. “By enabling ICE to hold illegal immigrants accountable for their actions in our communities, the Laken Riley Act will protect our loved ones and keep violent criminals off our streets.”
Key Provisions of the Laken Riley Act
The bill mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detain certain non-citizens who have been charged with or convicted of crimes such as burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. Additionally, it authorizes state governments to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures in immigration enforcement, particularly if these decisions cause financial harm exceeding $100.
States may sue over issues such as the release of non-citizens from custody, failures to inspect individuals seeking entry into the U.S., or violations of immigration parole limitations.
The legislation has drawn criticism from some Democrats, including Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. “There are serious flaws in this bill, it did not go through the normal judicial process,” Aguilar said, expressing concerns about its potential impact on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. “I voted against this because it opens a path for individuals through DACA who could be deported, and that’s a concern to me.”
Tragic Namesake Sparks Debate
The bill is named after 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was tragically murdered in February 2024 at the University of Georgia. Her attacker, Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, had a prior shoplifting citation but was allowed to remain in the country. Ibarra was later convicted and sentenced to life without parole for Riley’s murder.
“Absolutely no one should lose their life at the hands of a criminal who shouldn’t be in our country in the first place,” Taylor said.
Senate Showdown Looms
While the bill passed the House with some Democratic support, its future in the Senate is uncertain, where a narrower partisan divide could pose significant challenges to its advancement.
