Laken Riley’s bill is set to become one of the first pieces of legislation to land on President Trump’s desk
The Laken Riley Act it is expected to return to the House of Representatives after the Senate likely passes an amended version on Monday night.
The bill is set to be one of the first pieces of legislation sent to President Trump after it passed the 60-vote threshold twice this month.
The bill, introduced to the new session of Congress by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., in the Senate, and Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., in the House of Representatives, is named after the 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University. who was found dead on the University of Georgia campus in February.
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Republicans plan to push Laken Riley’s bill now that they have the upcoming trifecta in Washington. (Getty Images)
Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, he was found guilty of a total of 10 counts, including aggravated murder. He initially pleaded not guilty, but was eventually sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November.
The measure would require ICE to arrest and detain illegal immigrants who have committed theft, burglary or shoplifting until they are deported. States would also be empowered under the bill to take civil actions against members of the federal government who fail to enforce immigration laws.
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The bill would require ICE detention for certain crimes committed by illegal aliens. (Todd Packard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) )
A Republican amendment that would have added assault on law enforcement officers to the list of crimes that would trigger ICE detention was added last week in the Senate. The upper house will also vote Monday afternoon on whether to add “Sarah’s Law” as an amendment. The bill, led by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants accused of killing or seriously injuring another person.
A final vote on the immigration bill is expected around 6 p.m. in the upper house.
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Laken Riley poses for a photo posted on Facebook. Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was found dead near a lake on campus on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Lake Riley/Facebook)
After that, the House of Representatives will have to reconsider the measure and approve the final version with Senate amendments.
The prioritization of the bill ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Monday comes as the new president is expected to make immigration enforcement a top goal of his administration.
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US President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump at the United States Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th President of the United States. (Melina Mara – Pool/Getty Images)
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The Trump administration has already revealed several actions it is taking on its first day in office, many related to immigration. New White House officials revealed Monday that they will sign the executive order cancellation of citizenship by birth for the children of illegal immigrants, along with several other actions on the first day in solving the border crisis.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
