The House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Wednesday, delivering an immigration-focused bill to President Trump’s desk. This marks a potential legislative victory for Trump following his return to the White House earlier this week.
The bill was passed by a vote of 263-156, with 46 Democrats joining all present Republicans in support. The House’s approval followed the Senate’s bipartisan vote on Monday, where the measure was cleared by a margin of 64-35.
Trump is expected to sign the bill into law, making it the first legislation enacted during his second term. Immigration and border security have been central to Trump’s agenda and campaign messaging.
“The Laken Riley Act will now go to President Trump’s desk for him to sign into law,” said Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on social platform X. “Criminal illegal aliens must be detained, deported, and NEVER allowed back into our country. The American people demand and deserve safety and security.”
While the White House has not confirmed a signing ceremony, Trump is scheduled to leave for North Carolina on Friday.
Provisions of the Laken Riley Act
The legislation mandates the detention of a wide range of migrants without legal status, including those legally allowed into the United States to seek asylum, if they have been accused of crimes such as theft, burglary, or shoplifting.
The bill is named after Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant previously arrested for shoplifting. This incident occurred after the individual had been paroled into the U.S.
Criticism and Concerns
The bill has drawn criticism for requiring the detention of individuals based on accusations rather than convictions. Critics argue this could lead to unjust detainment and deportation.
“Under this bill, a person who has lived in the United States for decades, say for most of her life, paid taxes and bought a home, but who is mistakenly arrested for shoplifting would not be free to resume her life, but rather would be detained and deported, even if the charges are dropped,” said House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) during earlier debates.
Legislative Journey
The passage of the bill in the House marks the culmination of months of effort by Republicans. The legislation was first approved by the House in March, shortly after Riley’s death. However, it stalled in the then-Democratic-controlled Senate.
The bill was reintroduced earlier this month as the first measure of the 119th Congress. With a Republican majority in the Senate, the legislation quickly advanced. The Senate made minor technical adjustments and added two amendments before sending it back to the House for final approval.
One amendment, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), adds assault of a law enforcement officer to the list of crimes triggering detainment. Another amendment, known as Sarah’s Law and proposed by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), requires the detention of migrants without legal status who are charged with crimes resulting in death or serious bodily harm. This provision honors Sarah Root, a victim of a fatal car crash in 2016 caused by a migrant who later fled the country after posting bond.
Twelve Democrats joined all Senate Republicans in passing the final version of the bill.
Dividing Democrats
The legislation has exposed divisions among Democrats, who are still grappling with the aftermath of their losses in the November elections. Immigration and border security were pivotal issues during the campaign, with polls consistently identifying these topics as top concerns for voters.
Trump frequently highlighted Riley’s case on the campaign trail, using her death to critique the Biden administration’s immigration policies. When a Georgia court sentenced Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan migrant who killed Riley, to life in prison in November, Trump described the verdict as “justice.”
“The Illegal who killed our beloved Laken Riley was just found GUILTY on all counts for his horrific crimes,” Trump said at the time, shortly after his election victory.
Executive Actions on Immigration
Immigration remains a priority for the Trump administration. On his first day back in office, Trump issued several executive orders aimed at tightening border security and restricting migration.
One order pauses refugee admissions, while another reinstates a program that partners local law enforcement with immigration officials. Additionally, Trump declared a national emergency to allow for greater deployment of active-duty military personnel at the southern border and to allocate resources for border wall construction.
Another executive order frames migration as an “invasion” and seeks to halt asylum processing by citing public health and national security concerns.
The Path Forward
With the Laken Riley Act expected to be signed into law, Republicans view this as a significant step toward fulfilling their campaign promises on immigration. However, critics warn that the bill’s provisions may lead to human rights concerns and unintended consequences for migrants who have long been part of American society.
As immigration continues to be a contentious issue, the passage of this legislation highlights the deep divide between Republicans and Democrats on how to address border security and the treatment of migrants.