The Laken Riley Act, a contentious immigration enforcement bill, has successfully navigated both chambers of Congress and now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature. This legislation marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy and is poised to become the first law enacted under Trump’s second administration.
Congressional Approval
The House of Representatives gave final approval to the bill on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, with a vote of 263-156. This vote came after the Senate passed an amended version of the bill on Monday, January 20, with a 64-35 tally. The bipartisan support in both chambers underscores a notable shift in the political landscape surrounding immigration issues.
Key Provisions
The Laken Riley Act, named after a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student tragically killed by an undocumented immigrant in 2024, includes several stringent measures:
- Mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants charged with or arrested for certain crimes, including theft, burglary, and assault on law enforcement officers.
- Empowerment of state attorneys general to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement decisions.
- Expansion of deportation criteria to include individuals accused of crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Political Implications
The bill’s passage reflects a significant rightward shift in the immigration debate following Trump’s re-election. Notably, 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats crossed party lines to support the legislation. This bipartisan backing suggests a growing consensus on stricter immigration enforcement, particularly among Democrats from competitive districts.
The following 46 Democrats in the House voted to enact the Laken Riley Act:
- Sanford Bishop—Georgia
- Brendan Boyle—Pennsylvania
- Nikki Budzinski—Illinois
- Janelle Bynum—Oregon
- Jim Costa—California
- Joe Courtney—Connecticut
- Angie Craig—Minnesota
- Henry Cuellar—Texas
- Sharice Davids—Kansas
- Don Davis—North Carolina
- Shomari Figures—Alabama
- Laura Gillen—New York
- Jared Golden—Maine
- Vicente Gonzalez—Texas
- Maggie Goodlander—New Hampshire
- Josh Gottheimer—New Jersey
- Adam Gray—California
- Josh Harder—California
- Jahana Hayes—Connecticut
- Steven Horsford—Nevada
- Marcy Kaptur—Ohio
- Greg Landsman—Ohio
- Susie Lee—Nevada
- Mike Levin—California
- Stephen F. Lynch—Massachusetts
- John Mannion—New York
- Lucy McBath—Georgia
- April McClain-Delaney—Maryland
- Kristen McDonald Rivet—Michigan
- Dave Min—California
- Joseph Morelle—New York
- Jared Moskowitz—Florida
- Chris Pappas—New Hampshire
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez—Washington
- Hillary J. Scholten—Michigan
- Kim Schrier—Washington
- Terri A. Sewell—Alabama
- Eric Sorensen—Illinois
- Greg Stanton—Arizona
- Suhas Subramanyam—Virginia
- Tom Suozzi—New York
- Emilia Sykes—Ohio
- Dina Titus—Nevada
- Ritchie Torres—New York
- Derek Tran—California
- Eugene Vindman—Virginia
Implementation Challenges
Despite its passage, the Laken Riley Act faces potential hurdles in implementation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has privately informed lawmakers that the bill will require substantial adjustments and increased funding to execute effectively. The lack of additional funding provisions in the bill may complicate its enforcement.
Next Steps
As the bill heads to President Trump’s desk, it is expected to receive swift approval, aligning with his campaign promises on immigration reform. The White House has signaled that this legislation will be a cornerstone of the administration’s broader immigration strategy, which includes a series of executive orders aimed at tightening border security and accelerating deportations.
