The Laken Riley Act is a proposed US law mandating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal immigrants accused or convicted of theft-related offenses. It also empowers states to sue the DHS for alleged immigration enforcement failures. The act's genesis stems from the murder of Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus by an illegal immigrant with a prior shoplifting citation. This incident fueled the proposal of this legislation aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement and accountability.
2022: Illegal Entry into US
José Antonio Ibarra, who would later be charged with Laken Riley's murder, entered the United States illegally in 2022.
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February 2024: Murder of Laken Riley
Laken Riley was murdered in February 2024 by José Antonio Ibarra, an unauthorized immigrant. Ibarra had prior charges in New York and Georgia.
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March 7, 2024: Initial House Passage of the Laken Riley Act
On March 7, 2024, the Laken Riley Act was passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 251-170. The bill received bipartisan support, with 37 Democrats joining all Republicans in voting yes.
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March 2024: Initial House Passage and Senate Stall
In March 2024, the Laken Riley Act initially passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. However, it faced opposition and stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
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January 7, 2025: House Passage of the Laken Riley Act
On January 7, 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act for the second time, with a vote of 264-159. All Republicans and 48 Democrats voted in favor of the bill.
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