Laken Riley Act passes US House, would require detainment of illegals suspected of nonviolent crimes

The U.S. House has passed a bill to require the detainment of illegal immigrants suspected of nonviolent crimes.

In the first act of the 119th Congress, representatives approved the measure on Tuesday afternoon, with 216 Republicans and 48 Democrats in favor, National Review (NR) reported.

“I’m thankful that the House passed the Laken Riley Act in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner,” Rep. Mike Collins, R-Georgia, said. “No family should have to go through what Laken’s has endured.”

Collins introduced the bill last year after the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was 22, by an illegal immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was 26. Ibarra was reportedly from Venezuela, illegally entered the U.S. in 2022, and was released in New York in 2023 after being arrested and charged for child endangerment.

“It’s now up to the Senate to work together to put this crucial legislation on President Trump’s desk” Collins added.

The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation Friday, according to NR, where it needs 60 votes to avoid the possibility of a filibuster.