The U.S. Senate has passed the Laken Riley Act, bringing President Donald Trump closer to signing a major piece of immigration-related legislation into law. This development marks the first significant bill passed by the GOP-controlled Senate in the new Congress, highlighting the ongoing political focus on immigration issues.
The legislation received bipartisan support, with a 64-35 vote that saw every Republican and 12 Democrats voting in favor. This underscores the heightened political emphasis on immigration as a key issue, particularly in the wake of its effectiveness for Republicans during the November elections.
The Laken Riley Act mandates the federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary, and certain violent crimes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) described the bill as a critical measure to protect public safety.
“This legislation will ensure that illegal aliens who steal or assault a law enforcement officer are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement instead of being allowed out on the streets,” Thune stated before the vote. “I’m looking forward to getting this legislation to the president’s desk.”
The bill is named after Laken Riley, a college student from Athens, Georgia, who was murdered nearly a year ago by a Venezuelan immigrant who had been released after an earlier shoplifting arrest.
In addition to the main bill, an amendment sponsored by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) was approved with a 75-24 vote. Known as Sarah’s Law, the amendment expands the bill to include mandatory detention of undocumented migrants accused of crimes resulting in death or serious bodily harm. Sarah’s Law is named after Sarah Root, who was killed in 2016 in a car accident involving an undocumented immigrant who posted bail and left the country before trial.
The legislation faced notable opposition and debate among Senate Democrats. Critics raised concerns about provisions allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants upon arrest rather than conviction. They also highlighted the estimated $27 billion first-year implementation cost cited by the Department of Homeland Security, as well as expanded powers granted to state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials over detention decisions.
One Democratic amendment sought to remove the provision granting state attorneys general the authority to sue federal officials, but it failed to pass. The financial burden and logistical challenges of implementing the bill, especially given ICE’s limited resources, were central to the Democrats’ criticism.
Despite these concerns, the bill found support among some Democratic senators from battleground states, reflecting internal party divisions. Senators John Fetterman (Pa.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), and others joined Republicans in backing the legislation. This wave of bipartisan support weakened Democratic leadership’s position in negotiations.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) emphasized the broader political challenges facing Democrats on immigration policy:
“I’ve spent a lot of energy trying to show how Democrats care deeply about border security. I just think we’ve got to be engaged in a collective exercise to prove to the American people that we care more about border security than they do — but do that on our terms, not their terms.”
The Laken Riley Act reflects years of Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of border security and the surge in migrant arrivals. While Democrats have pursued bipartisan solutions, these efforts have not significantly shifted public perception or policy outcomes.
Before reaching President Trump’s desk, the bill must be reconciled with a slightly different version passed earlier by the House of Representatives. The outcome of this process will determine whether the legislation becomes law, potentially marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy.
