Date: January 7, 2025
Subject: Laken Riley Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.
Under this bill, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.
On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student, was murdered while she was jogging at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Her death was caused by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. The perpetrator, Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan man who had entered the United States illegally, was arrested and charged with 10 counts, including felony murder, malice murder, false imprisonment, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and kidnapping.
Result: Passed, 264-159
Names ordered: By yea/nay Order alphabetically Order by party Order by state
Click on a Representative's name to see more information for that Representative.
Voting data shown on this page comes from Voteview.