On Thursday night at a CNN town hall, a Democratic congresswoman said she regretted voting for the Laken Riley Act, adding, “immigrants across this country who are here legally and have followed the law are being terrorized right now.”
The Laken Riley Act <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requires</a> the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal immigrants who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. It also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. The legislation was named after Laken Riley, who was a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student murdered in February 2024 by a 26-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant while she was jogging.
Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) responded to a question posed by a member of the audience initially directed to Rep. Derek Tran (D-CA), who said he was concerned about the Laken Riley Act, which he said “begs the question of whether due process exists still in America.”
&#8220;So, given your background, both as an attorney and also the son of immigrants like myself, what made you vote yes on that? he asked Tran.
Tran said the Laken Riley Act &#8220;made sense&#8221; and &#8220;that when you commit a crime, you should be deported.&#8221;
Hayes disagreed with Tran&#8217;s assessment and stated, “I understand your concerns, and I understand how immigrants across this country who are here legally and have followed the law are being terrorized right now because they are unsure of what happens next,” the congresswoman said. “I voted for that piece of legislation because of a very specific provision, and it was if it caused injury or death to a police officer, which was one small piece of it.”
“As I have thought about it over the last couple months, I probably would have voted differently,” she continued. “It&#8217;s a vote that I regret. But, coming into this Congress, I trusted that this administration, we would have some &#8212; that they wanted to have border security, they wanted to work with Democrats, that we could actually move forward.”
She then attacked the Trump administration, saying, “I&#8217;m not really sure of that, because I have seen the rhetoric that has come out and the attacks that have been targeted towards immigrants. So I am very cautious and careful when I&#8217;m negotiating my votes moving forward.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes said during our town hall tonight that she regrets voting for the Laken Riley Act. <a href="https://t.co/tFEP0ReBUN">pic.twitter.com/tFEP0ReBUN</a>
&mdash; Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1910530619500638332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Laken Riley

Dem Regrets Voting For Laken Riley Act, Says Immigrants ‘Terrorized’ By Trump Admin

Congress

illegal immigrants

Politics

Trump Administration

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump delivered an uplifting and positive joint address on Tuesday night, one that will be remembered for its emotional moments highlighting Americans present at the address.
The president&#8217;s speech ran almost two hours long, setting a record for the longest presidential address to Congress in history. Trump wove in personal stories about Americans throughout a discourse on his administration&#8217;s accomplishments thus far, and made promises for the future.
&#8220;Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the Golden Age of America,&#8221; Trump said as he opened his remarks. &#8220;From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country. We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplish in four years or eight years — and we are just getting started.&#8221;
&#8220;I return to this chamber tonight to report that America’s momentum is back,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Our spirit is back. Our pride is back. Our confidence is back. And the American Dream is surging—bigger and better than ever before. The American Dream is unstoppable, and our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again.&#8221;
Democrats repeatedly attempted to disrupt the address, until House Speaker Mike Johnson called the room to order, ultimately directing the House Sergeant At Arms to remove Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas from the chamber for interrupting Trump&#8217;s speech.
The president&#8217;s speech touched on all of his major campaign promises, touting many of the items he has already taken action on thus far. He highlighted January Littlejohn, a mother who rescued her daughter from gender ideology. He mentioned the family of Laken Riley, a girl brutally killed by an illegal immigrant. He honored Corey Comperatore, the father and firefighter who was shot and killed by the man who attempted to assassinate Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally over the summer.
Trump also surprised multiple people present at the joint address with good news: in an emotional moment, he told 13-year-old brain cancer survivor DJ Daniels that he could become a member of the Secret Service. The little boy&#8217;s eyes widened in surprise when he heard the news, and he threw his arms around the beaming Secret Service director for a long hug.
In another emotional moment, the president broke the news to a young boy, Jason Hartley, who lost his police officer father at a young age, that he had been admitted into West Point, his dream school.
<div id="attachment_887165" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-trump-touts-accomplishments-in-powerful-address-americas-momentum-is-back/president-trump-delivers-first-address-to-joint-session-of-congress-2" rel="attachment wp-att-887165"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-887165" class="wp-image-887165 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2202767596-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>(Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)</div>
Trump also pointed to polls showing that Americans are feeling more positive about where the country is headed.
&#8220;Now, for the first time in modern history, more Americans believe that our country is headed in the RIGHT direction than the WRONG direction — an astonishing record 27-point swing since Election Day alone,&#8221; Trump said.
&#8220;Likewise, small business optimism saw its single largest one-month gain ever recorded—a 41-point jump. Over the past six weeks, I have signed nearly 100 Executive Orders and taken more than 400 Executive Actions to restore COMMON SENSE, safety, optimism, and wealth all across our wonderful land. The people elected me to do the job, and I am doing it. In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation.&#8221;
Trump also spoke about reciprocal tariffs, noting that &#8220;Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we tax them.&#8221;
On immigration, he argued that his administration &#8220;has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history — and we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossers ever recorded.&#8221;
&#8220;The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation to secure the border—but it turned out that all we really needed was a new president,&#8221; Trump added.
On Ukraine, Trump said he has worked &#8220;tirelessly&#8221; to end the &#8220;savage conflict&#8221;  in which &#8220;millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded&#8221; with no end in sight.
&#8220;The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defense,&#8221; the president said, eliciting one of the only moments of applause from Democrats in the crowd, who remained seated for even the positive stories of guests in the crowd. &#8220;Meanwhile, Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine – by far! And Biden has authorized more money in this fight than Europe has spent.&#8221;
The immediate reaction to Trump&#8217;s speech was overwhelmingly positive. &#8220;I have not clapped that much, in total in my entire life, as I did in the room,&#8221; said Daily Wire host Matt Walsh, who was in the room for the address as a guest of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-CONGRESS

President Trump Touts Accomplishments In Powerful Address: ‘America’s Momentum Is Back’

Donald Trump

Transgender

Border Czar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-homan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Homan</a> responded on Wednesday to President Donald Trump signing the Laken Riley Act into law, telling Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum that it would have prevented needless bloodshed if such a measure had been put in place earlier.
Homan was present at the signing ceremony for the new bipartisan legislation — named for the brutally-murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley — which will compel federal authorities to arrest and detain non-citizens who have been charged with, convicted of, or admitted to violent or theft-related crimes.
Following the ceremony, he spoke with MacCallum about what he expected to see change as it was implemented.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Border Czar Tom Homan on the Laken Riley Act: &quot;If you&#39;re in the country illegally and you get arrested for a crime, you have to detain them. It&#39;s no longer an option. If this was in effect during the Biden administration, you wouldn&#39;t have seen criminal aliens released every day&quot; <a href="https://t.co/DFxrQN2ziU">pic.twitter.com/DFxrQN2ziU</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1884703006429450311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Obviously an emotional time for her family and for families like hers that you have had too much experience with,&#8221; MacCallum began, asking, &#8220;What changes with this act? What does it allow law enforcement to do, Tom?&#8221;
&#8220;Look, it&#8217;s required for DHS to actually detain these people,&#8221; Homan replied. &#8220;So if you commit — if you&#8217;re in the country illegally and you get arrested for a crime, you have to detain them. It&#8217;s no longer an option. If this was in effect during the Biden administration, you wouldn&#8217;t have seen criminal aliens being released every day — by the hundreds every day.&#8221;
&#8220;So this is going to be — this is a statute, this is a law, you&#8217;ve got to detain these people, it&#8217;s the right thing to do, to protect people,&#8221; Homan continued. &#8220;It&#8217;s a game changer, this is going to be a very effective action to keep our streets safer from — starting day one.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/laken-rileys-mother-gives-tearful-remarks-after-trump-signs-law-named-for-late-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laken Riley&#8217;s mother</a> and others were also on hand when Trump signed the act into law, and she thanked the president for being a man of his word. She also noted that while no legislation would ever bring back her daughter, the passage of the Laken Riley Act meant that others might be saved from what she had gone through.

Tom Homan

Homan Responds To Trump Signing Laken Riley Act: ‘It’s No Longer An Option’

Homan Responds To Trump Signing Laken Riley Act: 'It's No Longer An Option'

Illegal Immigration

Joe Biden

Media

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laken Riley</a>’s mother Allyson Phillips wept as she thanked President Donald Trump for keeping his promises and honoring the memory of her daughter with the passage of the “Laken Riley Act.”
During a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, Trump signed into law the bipartisan bill, written after Laken, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student, was killed in February of 2024 by an illegal alien. The bill requires federal officials to arrest non-citizens accused of violent and theft-related crimes in the United States, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-into-law">reported</a>.
Phillips and President Trump shared an embrace before she took to the podium and spoke emotionally about the passage of the act and her daughter’s legacy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Laken Riley’s mother weeps as she thanks President Trump for keeping his promises and honoring the memory of her daughter: <a href="https://t.co/HhxPIpmhzq">pic.twitter.com/HhxPIpmhzq</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1884689786323042517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
“Our family will forever be grateful for the prayers of the people across our nation and for helping to get this legislation into law,” Phillips’ <a href="https://x.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1884689786323042517">said</a>. “We also want to thank President Trump for the promises he made to us. He said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken.”
She then began to break down, tearing up as she described the president as a “man of his word” and said, “We trust that he will fight for the American people.”
“Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ because, without his sacrifices, Laken’s story would’ve ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us,” Allyson said through tears. “But because of Him, we can continue living knowing that we will see Laken again.”
“There is no amount of change that will ever bring back our precious Laken,” she added while trying to hold back tears. “Our hope, moving forward, is that her life saves lives.”
“We are so thankful that her passion for helping others and her legacy for doing good in the name of Jesus Christ will carry on,” Phillips continued. “Thank you.”
The immigration legislation was passed through both the GOP-led House and Senate with bipartisan support. It is the first <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5">bill</a> that Trump has signed into law during his nascent second term in the White House. Under the law, federal officials are directed to detain non-citizens charged with, convicted of, or who admit to theft-related or violent offenses. It also authorizes states to sue over federal immigration actions.
During the signing, Trump promised the family that “we will keep Laken’s memory alive in our hearts forever.”
“Everyone’s hearts,” he added. “With today’s action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country. And this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together — that’s not easy to do. Laken did it. Laken did it. America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley.”
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this piece.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-revamped-laken-riley-act-sends-bill-to-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Passes Revamped Laken Riley Act, Sends Bill To Trump</a>

Laken Riley Act

Laken Riley’s Mother Gives Tearful Remarks After Trump Signs Law Named For Late Daughter

Border Crisis

House of Representatives

Illegal Immigation

U.S. Senate

On Wednesday, President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> signed into law the &#8220;Laken Riley Act,&#8221; a bill that requires federal officials to arrest non-U.S. nationals accused of violent and theft-related crimes in the United States.
The immigration legislation was passed through the GOP-led House and Senate with bipartisan support. It is the first <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> that Trump has signed into law during his nascent second term in the White House. Under the law, the Homeland Security Department is directed to detain &#8220;certain aliens&#8221; charged with, convicted of, or who admit to certain theft-related or violent offenses. It also authorizes states to sue over immigration enforcement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨 Trump signs the Laken Riley Act, his first bill signed into law as the 47th President. <a href="https://t.co/dZECmVaY34">pic.twitter.com/dZECmVaY34</a>
&mdash; Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1884693754264646012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Laken Riley was a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed last year. An illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> of murdering Riley and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-immigrant-d8d75ccc6d81e7a88eb7890829d9fc9c#:~:text=The%20killing%20added%20fuel%20to,entered%20the%20U.S.%20in%202022.&amp;text=The%20Venezuelan%20man%20convicted%20in,without%20the%20possibility%20of%20parole." target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to life in prison. Amid the ensuing national outcry, it was <a href="https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/jose-ibarra-accused-killer-laken-riley-georgia-immigration-system/85-0294133e-f5e1-4e2f-a2df-ab017b498508" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> that Ibarra had been previously arrested for other offenses, but he was released in New York before federal authorities could issue a detainer.
&#8220;To Laken&#8217;s family, we will keep Laken&#8217;s memory alive in our hearts forever,&#8221; Trump said at a signing ceremony at the White House. &#8220;Everyone&#8217;s hearts. With today&#8217;s action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country. And this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together &#8212; that&#8217;s not easy to do. Laken did it. Laken did it. America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;Laken&#39;s name will live forever in the laws of our country.
America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://t.co/87v2cox691">pic.twitter.com/87v2cox691</a>
&mdash; Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1884688952323453200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Border czar <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1884678072634392814" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Homan</a>, Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://x.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1884680903365988354" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a>, GOP lawmakers, and Sen. <a href="https://x.com/JacquiHeinrich/status/1884680923595047347" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Fetterman</a> (D-PA) were in attendance, as were members of Riley&#8217;s family. The Daily Wire&#8217;s Mary Margaret Olohan recorded video of Riley&#8217;s mother weeping as she delivered remarks, thanking Trump and the lawmakers who sponsored the bill.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Laken Riley’s mother weeps as she thanks President Trump for keeping his promises and honoring the memory of her daughter: <a href="https://t.co/HhxPIpmhzq">pic.twitter.com/HhxPIpmhzq</a>
&mdash; Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1884689786323042517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On the campaign trail last year, Trump <a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/679207dd-267f-4416-a2d7-41941d3f2e9e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with family and friends of Riley. He also posted on social media when Ibarra was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> in November on 10 charges, including murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with intent to rape Riley. &#8220;JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY!,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/remove-these-criminals-and-thugs-trump-responds-after-laken-rileys-killer-is-convicted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exclaimed</a>, adding that it was &#8220;time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country, so nothing like this can happen again!&#8221;
The &#8220;Laken Riley Act&#8221; initially focused solely on theft-related crimes for the detention requirement, in addition to empowering states to sue over alleged immigration infractions. Both chambers of Congress ultimately passed the bill with GOP amendments that added violent offenses, including assault of a police officer, to the detention section.
Although the legislation received bipartisan support, Democrat opponents warned that non-citizens simply accused of crimes might not get <a href="https://x.com/RepRashida/status/1882187953847611832" target="_blank" rel="noopener">due process</a> if it became law and that it would be a boon to private prisons.

President Donald Trump

Trump Signs Laken Riley Act Into Law

Immigration

John Fetterman

U.S.

White House

On Wednesday, the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> passed a beefed-up version of the &#8220;Laken Riley Act,&#8221; legislation that would require federal officials to arrest non-citizens who are charged with crimes in the United States.
The tally was <a href="https://x.com/HouseDailyPress/status/1882187750428057675" target="_blank" rel="noopener">263-156</a>. Forty-six Democrats <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1882188022101512280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined</a> with Republicans in voting for the bill, which will now be sent to President Donald Trump to sign into law. The GOP-controlled Senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-passes-amended-version-of-the-laken-riley-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the legislation earlier this week after adding on a couple of amendments.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My statement on final passage of The Laken Riley Act. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/SenKatieBritt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenKatieBritt</a>. Next up, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> desk! <a href="https://t.co/vw1LzItcZa">pic.twitter.com/vw1LzItcZa</a>
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeCollins/status/1882189558743486734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
As originally written, the bill directs the secretary of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants charged with, convicted of, or who admit to theft-related crimes. The list was expanded with one Senate <a href="https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/14/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amendment</a> that added &#8220;the assault of a law enforcement officer offense, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person.&#8221; A different <a href="https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amendment</a> worked in &#8220;crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury to the list of offenses that, if committed by an inadmissible alien, require mandatory detention.&#8221;
Another part of the &#8220;Laken Riley Act,&#8221; which has been part of the bill since the beginning, would allow states to sue federal officials for “injunctive relief” if certain immigration actions or policies harm their citizens. The Senate <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00004.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> a Democrat amendment that sought to <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00004.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rein in</a> this section.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl%3D1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA..&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737044212122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mp2MZNwEXBk00lKmCtOss">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
During debate on the House floor on Wednesday, Democrat opponents warned that non-citizens simply accused of crimes might not get <a href="https://x.com/RepRashida/status/1882187953847611832" target="_blank" rel="noopener">due process</a> if the bill becomes law and would be a boon to private prisons.
&#8220;When a private prison camp opens in your town and they say, &#8216;We didn&#8217;t know this was going to happen,&#8217; know that they did and they voted for it,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1882158623146536983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a> on during Laken Riley Act debate: &#8220;When a private prison camp opens in your town and they say, &#8216;we didn&#8217;t know this was going to happen,&#8217; know that they did and they voted for it.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/fim0j9FK0F">pic.twitter.com/fim0j9FK0F</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1882158623146536983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a proponent of the bill, <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1882158781812949422" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>: &#8220;Well, I certainly hope we do open as many prisons as possible to round up as many illegal aliens that have invaded our country and those that are breaking our laws, killing our citizens, women and children, and causing complete havoc across our great land.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMTG</a>: &#8220;Well, I certainly hope we do open as many prisons as possible to round up as many illegal aliens that have invaded our country and those that are breaking our laws, killing our citizens, women and children, and causing complete havoc across our great land.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/DeSVFAsH9v">pic.twitter.com/DeSVFAsH9v</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1882158781812949422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Earlier this month, the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-again-passes-laken-riley-act-159-dems-vote-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> its own version of the bill with the support of 216 Republicans and 48 Democrats. But the Senate took up its own version from Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), which was always going to need its own House vote regardless of whether amendments were attached. This came after the House first passed the &#8220;Laken Riley Act&#8221; in the last session of Congress, only for the then-Democrat-led Senate to <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7511/all-actions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ignore</a> it.
&#8220;After making the bill even stronger with Sarah&#8217;s Law &amp; a provision mirroring the POLICE Act, it heads to the House for final passage today at 3:30 ct. Once passed, Congress will have delivered results to keep Americans safe!&#8221; Britt said in a post to X in the hours before the House passed the legislation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What happens next with the Laken Riley Act?
After making the bill even stronger with Sarah&#8217;s Law &amp; a provision mirroring the POLICE Act, it heads to the House for final passage today at 3:30 ct. Once passed, Congress will have delivered results to keep Americans safe! <a href="https://t.co/7WSiAuZxhN">pic.twitter.com/7WSiAuZxhN</a>
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenKatieBritt/status/1882142173849907463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The legislation is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed last year. A 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> of murdering Riley and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-immigrant-d8d75ccc6d81e7a88eb7890829d9fc9c#:~:text=The%20killing%20added%20fuel%20to,entered%20the%20U.S.%20in%202022.&amp;text=The%20Venezuelan%20man%20convicted%20in,without%20the%20possibility%20of%20parole." target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to life in prison.
A press release from Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who <a href="https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reintroduced</a> the House version of the &#8220;Laken Riley Act&#8221; for the new session of Congress, said that the bill &#8220;directly addresses one of the federal policy failures&#8221; related to Riley’s murder. Ibarra &#8220;is an illegal alien who had been previously cited for shoplifting by the Athens Police Department,&#8221; it said. &#8220;If local law enforcement had called ICE, and ICE issued a detainer and picked him up, Laken would be alive.&#8221;
Looking ahead, the &#8220;Laken Riley Act&#8221; could be signed and become the first bill Trump enacts into law during his nascent second term in the White House. On the campaign trail last year, he <a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/679207dd-267f-4416-a2d7-41941d3f2e9e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with family and friends of Laken Riley while highlighting her murder as being emblematic of the border crisis under the Biden administration that he vowed to address if returned to power.
When Ibarra was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> in November on 10 charges, including murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with intent to rape Riley, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/remove-these-criminals-and-thugs-trump-responds-after-laken-rileys-killer-is-convicted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responed</a> on social media.
&#8220;JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY!&#8221; Trump exclaimed. &#8220;The Illegal who killed our beloved Laken Riley was just found GUILTY on all counts for his horrific crimes. Although the pain and heartbreak will last forever, hopefully this can help bring some peace and closure to her wonderful family who fought for Justice, and to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what they have. We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you. It is time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country, so nothing like this can happen again!&#8221;

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene

House Passes Revamped Laken Riley Act, Sends Bill To Trump

U.S. House of Representatives

On Monday, the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> passed an amended version of the &#8220;Laken Riley Act,&#8221; a bill that would require federal officials to arrest non-citizens who are charged with crimes in the United States.
The legislation was approved by a 65-34 vote in the upper chamber. Twelve Democrats joined with Republicans to vote in favor of the bill, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and others from battleground states.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Senate approves Laken Riley immigration bill as amended. Now goes to the House.
12 Dems YES: Cortez Masto NV, Fetterman PA, Gallego AZ, Hassan NH, Kelly AZ, Ossoff GA, Peters MI, Rosen NV, Shaheen NH, Slotkin MI, Warner VA, and Warnock GA. <a href="https://t.co/FmtK5DgkUm">pic.twitter.com/FmtK5DgkUm</a>
&mdash; Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamiedupree/status/1881484756354998363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Now, if the lower chamber approves the Senate bill in its amended form, the measure can be sent to the White House.
&#8220;This critical legislation will strengthen public safety and protect our communities. I’m looking forward to President Trump signing this life-saving legislation,&#8221; Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) <a href="https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/1881487240355815449" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X.
As originally written, the bill would direct the secretary of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants charged with, convicted of, or who admits to theft-related crimes.
One amendment from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) that <a href="https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/14/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> added &#8220;the assault of a law enforcement officer offense, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person&#8221; to the list.
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The Senate also broadened the scope of the bill with &#8220;Sarah’s Law,&#8221; a provision <a href="https://www.ernst.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ernst-works-to-close-migrant-crime-loophole-through-sarahs-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sought</a> by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and named after an Iowan killed by an illegal immigrant nine years ago.
&#8220;It requires detention and bars bail [for] illegal immigrants who have been accused of killing someone, such as via drunk driving,&#8221; Fox News reporter Chad Pergam said of &#8220;Sarah&#8217;s Law&#8221; in a <a href="https://x.com/ChadPergram/status/1881408806782894361" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> to X.
Another part of the bill allows states to sue federal officials for “injunctive relief” if certain immigration actions or policies harm their citizens. The Senate <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00004.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> a Democrat amendment that sought to <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00004.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rein in</a> this section.
The legislation was named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed last year. A 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, was convicted of murdering Riley and sentenced to life in prison.
A House version of the same bill <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-again-passes-laken-riley-act-159-dems-vote-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the lower chamber with the support of 216 Republicans and 48 Democrats earlier this month. However the Senate took up its own version, which was always going to need its own House vote.

US Capitol

Senate Passes Amended Version Of The Laken Riley Act

On Wednesday, the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> amended the &#8220;Laken Riley Act,&#8221; a bill that would require federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants charged with crimes in the United States.
Seventy members, including Republicans and Democrats, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/14/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> in favor of expanding the legislation&#8217;s list of criminal offenses that would lead to mandatory detention of &#8220;inadmissible aliens.&#8221;
Another 25 senators voted against the amendment from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), all Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them. Several other members did not vote.
The bill, which got <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-again-passes-laken-riley-act-159-dems-vote-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> by the House last week, would direct the secretary of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants charged with, convicted of, or who admits to theft-related crimes.
With the amendment included, the list now <a href="https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/14/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also mentions</a> &#8220;the assault of a law enforcement officer offense, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person.&#8221;
The Senate also <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00004.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> an amendment from Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) to &#8220;strike&#8221; a section authorizing state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials for alleged detention violations.
Laken Riley was a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed last year. An illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> of murdering Riley and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-immigrant-d8d75ccc6d81e7a88eb7890829d9fc9c#:~:text=The%20killing%20added%20fuel%20to,entered%20the%20U.S.%20in%202022.&amp;text=The%20Venezuelan%20man%20convicted%20in,without%20the%20possibility%20of%20parole." target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to life in prison.
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A press release from Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who <a href="https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reintroduced</a> the Laken Riley Act for the new Congress, said the bill &#8220;directly addresses one of the federal policy failures&#8221; related to the murder.
Ibarra was &#8220;previously cited for shoplifting by the Athens Police Department,&#8221; it said. &#8220;If local law enforcement had called ICE, and ICE issued a detainer and picked him up, Laken would be alive.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5/amendments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dozens</a> more amendments have been proposed, including <a href="https://x.com/SenatorDurbin/status/1879315360975097974" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two</a> from Judiciary ranking member Dick Durbin (D-IL) that would exempt Dreamers and give them and others a path to citizenship.
But C-SPAN&#8217;s Craig Caplan <a href="https://x.com/CraigCaplan/status/1879683513869312006" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has filed cloture on the bill, setting up a vote to advance it and limit amendments, with a 60-vote threshold.
Whatever new version of the Laken Riley Act may ultimately pass through the Senate would need another vote by the House before it could be sent to the president to possibly sign the bill into law.

US Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

Senate Amends Laken Riley Act To Add More Crimes Requiring Detention Of Illegal Immigrants

Chris Coons

Dick Durbin

John Cornyn

John Thune

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) said during an interview over the weekend that he does not support the Laken Riley Act, named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, who was murdered by 26-year-old Venezuelan illegal alien Jose Ibarra.
Padilla made the remarks about the bill, which has received strong support from both parties, during a Sunday interview on NBC News&#8217; &#8220;Meet The Press&#8221; with Kristen Welker.
&#8220;So my understanding is there was a procedural vote to allow the measure to come up in the Senate for purposes of allowing a debate, allowing us to offer amendments,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The bill currently, as written, is first of all, it&#8217;s not immigration policy. Second of all, it is already in law that those who commit violent crimes can and should be detained and are in that deportation process.&#8221;
Welker had to press Padilla two more times to answer whether he would support the bill after Senators voted 84-9 to advance it in the U.S. Senate.
&#8220;As currently written I&#8217;m a no, because it opens the doors for people simply being charged, without a conviction, to be detained and deported,&#8221; he said, trying to defend illegal aliens. &#8220;That includes minors, that includes Dreamers, that&#8217;s shoplifting a pack of bubble gum. There has to be more of a focus on a piece of legislation like this.&#8221;
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Sen. Alex Padilla says he has faith in Gov. Newsom and Mayor Bass: Full interview" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Va8tgpIfo4?start=332&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Senate Democrats Urge Action On Dreamers Legislation

California Democrat Senator Padilla: ‘I’m A No’ On Laken Riley Act

California

illegal immigrant

Two Congressional New Jersey Democrats who are vying to succeed Democrat Governor Phil Murphy <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/laken-riley-act-roils-nj-governors-race-2-dems-skip-roll-the-more-someone-campaigns-less-vote?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">did not vote</a> on the Laken Riley Act that passed this week in the House.
Reps. Mikie Sherrill of Essex and Josh Gottheimer of Bergen County were recorded as &#8220;not voting&#8221; on the bill, which would require illegal immigrants convicted of theft to be detained by municipal and state authorities.
“We’ve been very focused on border security; the Laken Riley Act makes it clear, if you’re committing crimes in America against people, it’s not going to be tolerated,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) stated.
Every Republican voted for the bill; only 438 Democrats did the same.
“This is Cowardly &#8211; @MikieSherrill + @Josh4Jersey are the same again. If you don’t have the courage to vote for a bill then what does that say about your courage to lead as Governor. What does it say about your willingness to stand up to political bosses and charge NJ? If you can’t vote what does it say about your willingness to demonstrate any core convictions… it’s cowardly,” Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop, another Democrat running for governor, charged.
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This is Cowardly &#8211; <a href="https://twitter.com/MikieSherrill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikieSherrill</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/Josh4Jersey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Josh4Jersey</a> are the same again. If you don’t have the courage to vote for a bill then what does that say about your courage to lead as Governor. What does it say about your willingness to stand up to political bosses and charge NJ? If you… <a href="https://t.co/T7JRbUveMt">https://t.co/T7JRbUveMt</a>
&mdash; Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenFulop/status/1876987633282252852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“We lose elections when we don’t have any core convictions… when we can’t explain why we have a view and why we believe in it. Hiding is not an answer that wins elections,” he added.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We lose elections when we don’t have any core convictions… when we can’t explain why we have a view and why we believe in it. Hiding is not an answer that wins elections <a href="https://t.co/q1ft9KRorH">pic.twitter.com/q1ft9KRorH</a>
&mdash; Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenFulop/status/1876987644502048919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who narrowly lost a gubernatorial election to Murphy in 2021, chimed in, &#8220;Shame on [Josh and Mikie] for gutlessly ducking a vote on the Laken Riley Act today.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Shame on <a href="https://twitter.com/Josh4Jersey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Josh4Jersey</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/MikieSherrill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikieSherrill</a> for gutlessly ducking a vote on the Laken Riley Act today. This brave young woman fought till her last breath against a murderous illegal immigrant, but Josh/Mikie didn&#39;t have the courage to stand up to their extreme far left base.
&mdash; Jack Ciattarelli (@Jack4NJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jack4NJ/status/1876740037150158902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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GOP State Senator Jon Brannick, who has announced his gubernatorial campaign, echoed, &#8220;I think you have to have campaign activities come secondary to your responsibility. &#8230; The key question is &#8212; if you’re going to run &#8212; campaign activities must be secondary to your voting.”
On February 24, 2024, Georgia nursing student Laken Riley was murdered while she was jogging near the University of Georgia. Her murderer, José Antonio Ibarra, 26, “was arrested in 2022 after entering the US illegally and was ‘paroled and released for further processing,’ according to a statement from ICE,” CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/25/us/uga-augusta-university-student-killing-monday/index.html/%5d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on February 26, 2024. “He was also arrested last September by New York City police and charged with ‘acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation,’ but police released him ‘before a detainer could be issued,’ ICE said.”

US-VOTE-POLITICS-TRUMP

‘It’s Cowardly’: 2 Dem NJ Gubernatorial Candidates Ripped For Not Voting On Laken Riley Act

New Jersey

Phil Murphy

The GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> advanced on Thursday the &#8220;Laken Riley Act,&#8221; legislation that would require federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants who are charged with theft-related crimes in the United States.
A bipartisan group of 84 members voted to <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/filibusters-cloture.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invoke cloture</a>, surpassing the 60-vote threshold to end a filibuster and open debate on the bill, which is <a href="https://x.com/RepMikeCollins/status/1877449367398826420" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a> to get a final vote on passage as early as next week.
The legislation was named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed last year. An illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> of murdering Riley and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-immigrant-d8d75ccc6d81e7a88eb7890829d9fc9c#:~:text=The%20killing%20added%20fuel%20to,entered%20the%20U.S.%20in%202022.&amp;text=The%20Venezuelan%20man%20convicted%20in,without%20the%20possibility%20of%20parole." target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to life in prison.
A press release from Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who <a href="https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reintroduced</a> the Laken Riley Act for the new session of Congress, said that the bill &#8220;directly addresses one of the federal policy failures&#8221; related to Riley’s murder.
Ibarra &#8220;is an illegal alien who had been previously cited for shoplifting by the Athens Police Department,&#8221; it said. &#8220;If local law enforcement had called ICE, and ICE issued a detainer and picked him up, Laken would be alive.&#8221;
A summary of the bill says it would require &#8220;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.&#8221;
The legislation would also authorize &#8220;states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement,&#8221; the summary — which appears on the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/29?s=1&amp;r=3&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22Laken+Riley+Act%22%7D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress.gov website</a> — also notes.
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In March of last year, the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-led-house-passes-laken-riley-act-170-dems-vote-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the Lake Riley Act, but the Senate — then under control of the Democrats — <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7511/all-actions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">did not take it up</a> for a vote. The House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-again-passes-laken-riley-act-159-dems-vote-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed it again</a> — with more Democrat votes — earlier this week.
NBC News reporter Sahil Kapur <a href="https://x.com/sahilkapur/status/1877408124920815805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post to X that Democrats are open to the bill as their party is &#8220;recalibrating on immigration, after getting pummeled on the issue in recent years,&#8221; including in the 2024 election.
Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-fetterman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Fetterman</a> (D-PA), a co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act, <a href="https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1876830970458108032" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during a Fox News interview that if Democrats could not come up with at least seven votes to break a filibuster, &#8220;that&#8217;s a reason why we lost.&#8221;
In fact, a majority of Democrats did vote for cloture, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Fetterman. Just <a href="https://x.com/america/status/1877460694242562154" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nine members</a> — eight Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) — opposed moving forward.
Some Democrats want amendments, including for the sections on <a href="https://x.com/sahilkapur/status/1877409398676496526" target="_blank" rel="noopener">theft</a> and <a href="https://x.com/burgessev/status/1877324153625133254" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state lawsuits</a>, as well as how it deals with &#8220;Dreamers,&#8221; but Punchbowl News&#8217; Andrew Desiderio <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1877420278076059751" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Republicans are &#8220;likely to shut this down.&#8221;

The US Capitol

Senate Breaks Filibuster On Laken Riley Act

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) became the first Senate Democrat to sponsor the Laken Riley Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
News broke of Fetterman&#8217;s plan to sponsor the bill just ahead of a vote for the measure took place in the House.
&#8220;BREAKING: Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) sponsors the Laken Riley Act in the Senate. Fetterman is the first Senate Democrat to sponsor it. This bill will ensure detention and deportations of criminal aliens before they can commit heinous crimes like what happened to Laken Riley,&#8221; Eric Daugherty posted.
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BREAKING: Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) sponsors the Laken Riley Act in the Senate.
Fetterman is the first Senate Democrat to sponsor it.
This bill will ensure detention and deportations of criminal aliens before they can commit heinous crimes like what happened to Laken Riley.… <a href="https://t.co/SBqGifP5VB">pic.twitter.com/SBqGifP5VB</a>
&mdash; Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1876635042866221500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Fetterman issued a statement in support of the bill, which is named for the Georgia nursing student who was brutally murdered by an illegal migrant who had previously been arrested but not deported.
&#8220;Laken Riley’s story is a tragic reminder of what’s at stake when our systems fail to protect people. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to preventable violence,&#8221; Fetterman&#8217;s statement read.
&#8220;Immigration is what makes our country great,&#8221; Fetterman <a href="https://www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/u-s-senators-katie-britt-ted-budd-john-thune-john-fetterman-colleagues-introduce-laken-riley-act-in-119th-congress/">continued</a>. &#8220;I support giving authorities the tools to prevent tragedies like this one while we work on comprehensive solutions to our broken system.&#8221;
The Laken Riley Act, introduced in the Republican-led House by Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-again-passes-laken-riley-act-159-dems-vote-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed the lower chamber</a> on Tuesday. Forty-eight Democrats voted with 216 Republicans to pass the bill, which was opposed by 159 Democrats.
As previously reported, if signed into law, the Laken Riley Act would compel federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants charged with theft in the U.S. In addition, it opens the door for individual states to sue federal officials for “injunctive relief” if immigration actions or policies implemented by the federal government have an adverse impact on citizens in their state.
Rep. Collins thanked Fetterman for supporting the bill in a post on X, saying, &#8220;This bill sells itself, but I will be living in the Senate hallways until it passes if need be. Very grateful for @SenFettermanPA. Now we need Georgia&#8217;s Senators to step up.&#8221;
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This bill sells itself, but I will be living in the Senate hallways until it passes if need be. Very grateful for <a href="https://twitter.com/SenFettermanPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenFettermanPA</a>. Now we need Georgia&#39;s Senators to step up. <a href="https://t.co/GD8tTeFpFs">https://t.co/GD8tTeFpFs</a>
&mdash; Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeCollins/status/1876648944450633888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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John Fetterman Is First Senate Democrat To Step Up, Sponsor Laken Riley Act

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