ATLANTA — The U.S. House voted Tuesday to pass for a second time the Laken Riley Act, sponsored by Georgia Rep. Mike Collins and named for the nursing student murdered on the University of Georgia campus last year.
This legislation previously passed the House last year but did not manage to make it past the Senate. It passed again Tuesday in the House by a 264-159 vote.
Rep. Collins, ahead of the vote, released a statement from Riley’s mother and stepfather, Allyson and John Phillips.
“The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of heartbreak we’ve experienced,” the statement said. “Laken would have been 23 on January 10th. There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill.”
The statement called Laken a “beautiful, shining beacon in the life of everyone who knew her” who “shared her love for Jesus with everyone she encountered.”
The bill seeks to give ICE and state governments more resources to fight against those who have crossed the border illegally with a criminal record or who have committed crimes once in the U.S.
RELATED: Who is Laken Riley? A summary of the case involving a nursing student killed on UGA’s campus
The act has two main provisions:
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It amends federal law to require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to issue detainers and take custody of people in the country illegally who commit theft-related crimes, including shoplifting, as defined by state and local laws.
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It gives state attorneys general the power to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if federal immigration policies, such as parole violations or detention failures, harm the state or its residents.
The bill directly responds to the case of Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan who entered the country illegally and who had been cited for shoplifting by local police before murdering Laken Riley. Ibarra was convicted in November 2024 and sentenced to life without parole.
“The Laken Riley Act gives our law enforcement the tools they need to protect their communities and ensure that no more innocent lives are lost to a broken immigration and criminal justice system,” Rep. Collins said about the bill. “I am proud that the House was able to come together and pass this bill. If the Senate will do its job, President Trump will make it law.”
On behalf of Laken Riley’s family: pic.twitter.com/NiBhoQndmm
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) January 7, 2025