The House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Tuesday morning, despite opposition from 159 Democrats. The legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take into custody illegal aliens arrested, charged, or convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
Every Republican in the House voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act, which is named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was brutally murdered last year in Athens, Georgia, by a stranger in illegally released within the United States.
A few months before Riley’s murder, Jose Antonio Ibarra was cited for shoplifting in Athens and later received a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on those charges. Despite the charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not take him into custody.
The Laken Riley Act would require DHS to arrest illegal aliens arrested, charged, or convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
While 48 House Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the Laken Riley Act, 159 Democrats voted against the legislation.
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who introduced the Laken Riley Act, wrote on X that he is grateful the legislation passed and hopes the Senate will do the same.
“I am grateful that the House passed the Laken Riley Act in an extremely bipartisan manner,” Collins wrote. “No family should have to endure what Laken endured. It is now up to the Senate to work together to put this critical legislation on President Trump’s desk.”
Last year, Senate Democrats twice blocked the Laken Riley Act from being introduced in the Senate in hopes of never having to publicly oppose the legislation.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
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