The House wasted no time making a bold statement in the new Congress, passing the Laken Riley Act, a strong border enforcement measure named after a tragic victim of failed immigration policies. The bill, named for 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant, passed with a decisive 264-159 vote. This puts the spotlight squarely on Senate Democrats as the GOP-led Senate prepares to bring it to a vote on what would have been Riley’s 23rd birthday.
All 52 Senate Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill, joined by Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., meaning seven additional Democrat votes are needed to break the filibuster. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., captured the urgency of the moment: “We welcome with open arms any Democrat who wants to help us solve these problems, because the American people demand and deserve it. It’s overdue.”
The Laken Riley Act, reintroduced by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., seeks to tighten immigration enforcement in several critical ways. It would require ICE to take custody of illegal migrants who commit theft-related crimes, addressing a glaring loophole that only allowed ICE involvement in cases of major crimes. Additionally, the bill empowers state attorneys general to sue the federal government if they can demonstrate harm from the failure to enforce immigration laws.
The tragic circumstances that inspired this legislation illustrate the consequences of lax immigration enforcement. Riley’s murderer had been arrested for shoplifting just a week before taking her life. Under current policies, he was released rather than detained. “If the Laken Riley Act had been in place and been the law of the land before she got murdered, the odds are she would be alive with us today,” said Rep. Collins.
Democrats find themselves in a tight spot. Opposing the bill risks further alienating moderate voters already frustrated by their party’s inaction on border security. But supporting it means acknowledging a problem they’ve spent years pretending doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, Republicans are delivering on their promise to put Americans first by closing dangerous loopholes and holding the federal government accountable.
The Laken Riley Act isn’t just a piece of legislation; it’s a wake-up call for a nation that has had enough of prioritizing the interests of illegal immigrants over the safety of its citizens. While Democrats scramble to spin the issue, Republicans are showing what real leadership looks like by putting American lives above partisan games. It’s time for the Senate to follow suit and make this law a reality.
