Senate Passes Laken Riley Act In First Move After Trump Inauguration

Senate Passes the Laken Riley Act, Advancing Major Immigration Legislation
The U.S. Senate has passed the Laken Riley Act, moving President Donald Trump closer to signing a pivotal piece of immigration legislation into law. This marks the first major bill passed by the GOP-controlled Senate in the new Congress, underscoring the continued political focus on immigration policy.
The legislation received strong bipartisan support in a 64-35 vote, with every Republican and 12 Democrats voting in favor. The broad support highlights immigration as a central issue, particularly after its effectiveness as a rallying point for Republicans during the recent elections.
Key Provisions of the Laken Riley Act
The Laken Riley Act mandates the federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary, and specific violent crimes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) emphasized the bill’s importance in protecting public safety.
“This legislation ensures that illegal aliens who steal or assault a law enforcement officer are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement rather than being released back onto the streets,” Thune said before the vote. “I look 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.
Expansion Through Sarah’s Law Amendment
In addition to the core bill, the Senate approved an amendment sponsored by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) with a 75-24 vote. Known as Sarah’s Law, the amendment expands mandatory detention to include undocumented immigrants accused of crimes resulting in death or serious bodily harm. The amendment is named after Sarah Root, who was killed in 2016 in a car accident caused by an undocumented immigrant who posted bail and fled the country before trial.
Opposition and Concerns
The legislation faced significant opposition from Senate Democrats, who raised concerns about provisions allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals based on accusations rather than convictions. Critics also highlighted the estimated $27 billion first-year implementation cost, as cited by the Department of Homeland Security, and the expanded authority granted to state attorneys general to sue federal officials over detention decisions.
A Democratic amendment aimed at removing the provision allowing state attorneys general to sue federal officials failed to pass. Democrats also questioned whether ICE has the resources to implement the bill effectively, given its existing limitations.
Despite these concerns, internal divisions within the Democratic Party were evident. Several Democratic senators from battleground states, including John Fetterman (Pa.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), and Raphael Warnock (Ga.), broke ranks to support the legislation. This bipartisan backing weakened the party’s unified opposition and underscored the political sensitivity of immigration issues.
Political and Financial Implications
The Laken Riley Act reflects years of Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of border security and migrant arrivals. While Democrats have sought bipartisan solutions, their efforts have struggled to counter Republican messaging on immigration.
Critics within the Democratic Party, such as Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), highlighted the political challenges they face in addressing immigration policy. “We need to show the American people that we care deeply about border security,” Murphy said. “But we must do it on our terms, not theirs.”
The estimated cost of $27 billion and logistical hurdles, including ICE’s resource constraints, have raised concerns about the bill’s feasibility. Environmental groups and civil rights advocates have also flagged potential risks to due process and human rights in the expanded detention measures.
Next Steps and Broader Implications
Before the legislation can be signed into law, the Senate version must be reconciled with the slightly different bill passed earlier by the House of Representatives. The outcome of this reconciliation process will determine whether the Laken Riley Act becomes law, potentially marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy.
If enacted, the bill would not only reinforce stricter immigration enforcement but also spark further debate over the balance between national security, human rights, and due process. As immigration remains a politically charged issue, the Laken Riley Act could shape the broader narrative on border security and public safety for years to come.