Laken Riley Act clears key procedural hurdle with crucial Democratic support

The Laken Riley Act cleared a crucial hurdle in the Senate Friday morning, setting the bill up for final passage as early as next week.

The bill seeking to crackdown on illegal immigration passed 61 to 35 with 10 Democratic senators voting to advance the bill.

The Laken Riley Act, named in honor of a University of Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant while out on a run near her college campus in February 2024, requires federal immigration authorities to detain illegal migrants who commit theft-related crimes in the United States. The bill also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over failing to enforce immigration law, a provision the majority of Democratic lawmakers appear to oppose.

The Senate added an amendment from Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn to the bill Wednesday, which expands the list of offenses committed by illegal migrants requiring detention in the bill to also include assault of a law enforcement officer.

Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, who represents the state where Riley’s murder occurred, notably voted against advancing the bill to final passage.

Republican Alabama Sen. Katie Britt introduced the bill in the Senate and has led Senate Republicans’ floor debate on the legislation.

“With today’s strong vote on the Laken Riley Act, we are in the final sprint to getting this life-saving bill across the finish line, honoring her legacy and making America safer,” Britt wrote on X Friday morning following the successful vote.

Britt’s staff told the Daily Caller News Foundation Wednesday that the Alabama Republican was open to amending the legislation, but would not support amendments that weakened the bill.

The Democratic Senators who voted to limit debate on the bill include Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Caroline Cortez-Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Mark Warner of Virginia.

Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, a sponsor of the legislation, did not vote.

Due to the Senate amending the bill, the Laken Riley Act will be sent back to the House for consideration following final passage in the Senate.

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