Senate to Vote on Laken Riley Act Targeting Criminal Illegal Immigrants

The bipartisan bill, named after a murdered Georgia student, seeks to mandate ICE custody for illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

The Laken Riley Act passed the House with bipartisan support, requiring ICE to detain illegal immigrants who commit crimes, and now heads to the Senate for a procedural vote on Friday.
The legislation is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student murdered in Georgia by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record in 2024.
Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) have co-sponsored the bill, while some Democrats, including Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, remain undecided.
The bill has sparked debate over immigration policies, with supporters emphasizing public safety and critics arguing it falls short of addressing broader systemic issues.
The vote coincides with what would have been Riley's 23rd birthday, highlighting the emotional weight behind the legislation for her family and supporters.