House Passes ‘Laken Riley Act’ in Face of Opposition from 159 Democrats: ‘No Family Should Have to Go Through What Laken’s Has Endured

By John Binder

The House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Tuesday morning despite opposition from 159 Democrats. The legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take into custody illegal aliens arrested, charged, or convicted for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

BREAKING.🚨

The 119th Congress has passed its first bill: The Laken Riley Act.

“[T]he Laken Riley Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Collins, holds the Biden Administration accountable for their role in these tragedies through their open border policies, requires detention of illegal… pic.twitter.com/lyN55ofgGa

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) January 7, 2025

 All present House Republicans voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act which is named after the 22-year-old nursing student who was brutally murdered last year in Athens, Georgia, by an illegal alien released into the United States interior.

The Laken Riley Act would require DHS to take into custody illegal aliens arrested, charged, or convicted for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

While 48 House Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the Laken Riley Act, 159 Democrats voted against the legislation.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who introduced the Laken Riley Act, wrote on X that he is thankful the legislation passed and hopes the Senate does the same.

The radical Left is going to vote against the Laken Riley Act, with a Squad member comparing Laken’s brutal murder to kids shoplifting chips. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/jlUi552ZNw

— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 7, 2025

“I’m thankful that the House passed the Laken Riley Act in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner,” Collins wrote. “No family should have to go through what Laken’s has endured. It’s now up to the Senate to work together to put this crucial legislation on President Trump’s desk.”

Last year, Senate Democrats twice blocked the Laken Riley Act from being brought to the Senate floor in the hopes of never having to oppose the legislation publicly.

John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter here.