FIRST ON FOX: Senate Republicans are preparing to take several measures in the new year that Democrats denied votes in the last Congress. The first of them is Laken Riley’s lawit is being reintroduced by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and is set for a vote by the end of the week.
The measure was ordered for a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was found dead on the University of Georgia campus in February. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, he was found guilty of a total of 10 counts, including aggravated murder. At first he pleaded not guilty.
In November, he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
The bill would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest and detain illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary or shoplifting until they are deported. In addition, states would have the right under the law to take civil action against members of the federal government who fail to enforce immigration law.
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The Laken Riley Act was first introduced in the House by Representative Mike Collins in March, and in the Senate by Senator Katie Britt. (Getty Images)
“It is impossible to fully describe what was taken from Laken and our family on February 22, 2024. Laken’s life was abundant and extremely full of promise. She was a beautiful, shining beacon in the lives of all who knew her. Not only the people who knew her those who loved Laken lost a beautiful soul, but this is how our world shared its love for Jesus with everyone it met. They felt Laken’s passion and her faith through acts of kindness, and Laken was selfless, hardworking and made Laken not only talk about her faith, she led by example,” said Allyson and John Phillips, Laken Riley’s mother and stepfather, in a statement.
“The Laken Riley Act has our full support as it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the heartbreak we have. Laken would have been 23 on January 10th. There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill. Every member of Congress should be able to get behind this common sense bill that will make our country and communities safer. We thank Congressman Mike Collins, Senator Katie Britt, and Senator Ted Budd continue to work to honor Laken’s legacy and make this bill law.”
It was first introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., in March, and in the Senate by Britt.
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Ibarra pleaded not guilty. (Brynn Anderson/Pool via AP)
However, the bill never received a vote in the Senate that refers to a stand-alone bill.
Republicans have a looming trifecta in the federal government, united in prioritizing the southern border and fighting illegal immigration, and Republican lawmakers see a big opportunity to push through key legislation.
“Last year, Laken Riley was stolen from this country – from her family and friends and from the realization of her dreams – by a brutal, callous killer. Make no mistake – he should never have been in the United States, much less allowed to walk freely roams America’s streets after being charged with multiple crimes, Laken’s murder was a direct result of a deliberate open border,” Britt said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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Britt introduced the bill last year. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“The American people didn’t just give a mandate on November 5th, they passed a verdict. They made it clear that they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families. We’ll soon know if Democrats will hear, respect and honor that verdict. Congress has an obligation to Laken, her family and families in every corner of our country to do everything in our power to prevent this type of tragedy from happening again.That is why it is imperative that we adopt common sense, Laken Riley, act with all due diligence hurry, no other American family has to feel the pain that Laken’s family still feels 320 days after losing her,” she added.
In his own statement, Collins said, “An illegal criminal came into my district and killed Laken Riley because our local law enforcement did not have the tools to stop him. Laken fought to the last breath, and so will I until this bill crosses the finish line and lands on the president’s desk.”
The measure was spearheaded in the Senate by Sen. Tedd Budd, RN.C., who said in a statement: “What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen. As we turn the page from Joe Biden’s disastrous open-border policy, Laken The Riley Act will empower the Trump administration to enforce our laws, keep our nation safe, and prevent tragedies. I thank Senator Britt for her partnership and her leadership in this bipartisan effort.”
Now that Republicans control the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., at the helm, a vote on the bill is expected, and in the short term.
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Thune is the new Senate Majority Leader. (TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)
A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that a vote in the upper chamber is likely to take place on Friday, with Democrats forced to vote on the record.
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If only Republicans support the measure, it will fail to overcome the legislative filibuster, which requires bills to get 60 votes to end debate and proceed. Notably, freshman Democratic senators Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., voted for the bill in the House of Representatives last year.
The vote will put the Georgia Senate delegation in the spotlight, as Riley was an integral part of it. In particular, all eyes will be on Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who is running for re-election in 2026 in a state won by President-elect Donald Trump.
