Democrat Sen. John Fetterman Co-Sponsors GOP-Led Laken Riley Act to Detain Illegal Immigrants Who Commit Crimes
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has co-sponsored the Republican-led Laken Riley Act, becoming the first Democrat to support the anti-illegal immigration measure in the Senate.
The bill was reintroduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), joined by Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Fetterman (D-PA), and the entire Republican Conference.
Fetterman’s co-sponsorship could also encourage more Senate Democrats to support the bill, leading to its passage. While Republicans control 53 seats, the bill requires 60 votes to pass, making Democrats’ support necessary for its success.
The bill is named in honor of a Georgia University nursing student, Laken Riley, 22, who was killed by an illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra while jogging. Ibarra was previously arrested for shoplifting before escalating his crimes to murder.
The Laken Riley Act intends to compel the immigration authorities to hold illegal immigrants arrested, charged, or convicted of various crimes, such as burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting until they are removed from the country.
Had authorities detained and removed Ibarra from the country when he was first arrested for shoplifting, Riley’s life would have been spared. The Venezuelan illegal immigrant was also a suspected Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang member, which could have further justified his detention if similar laws existed.
The law also enables the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to bypass sanctuary ordinances and detain illegal immigrants if states or local authorities fail to do so.
The Laken Riley Act also empowers state attorneys general to sue federal authorities for failing to enforce immigration laws.
“Laken Riley’s story is a tragic reminder of what’s at stake when our systems fail to protect people,” Fetterman’s office said in a statement. “No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to preventable violence.”
Fetterman added that while he supports immigration, he also supports giving authorities authorities the necessary “tools to prevent tragedies like this one.”
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who reintroduced the companion bill in the House, said he was “very grateful for @SenFettermanPA. Now we need Georgia’s Senators to step up.”
On Tuesday, the House overwhelmingly passed the bill on a 264 to 159 vote. While a whopping 48 Democrats crossed party lines to approve the measure, 159 others opposed the bill.
“It is hard to believe after countless horrific stories like Laken’s, ANY House Democrats would vote against deporting illegal aliens who commit violent crimes against American citizens,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“But 159 just did, demonstrating some Democrats have ignored the loud and clear message from voters in this election who demanded secure borders, the deportation of violent illegal aliens, and laws that put the safety and security of the American people first.”
“The only thing President Biden did after Laken’s tragic death was apologize for calling her murderer an illegal,” he said ahead of the vote.
Reintroduced in the House by Rep. Collins in the 119 Congress, the Laken Riley Act had passed in the same chamber in March 2024 on a 251-170 vote, with only 37 Democrats supporting it.
However, the then-Democratic-led Senate failed to take up the measure, allowing it to rot. Thus, the Republican-controlled Senate intends to ensure the bill becomes law. Majority Leader John Thune has already set up a procedural vote, ensuring the measure appears on the Senate floor within a week.
While the bill smoothly passed in the House, the number of lawmakers opposed to the measure, all Democrats, is disheartening, as the Laken Riley Act should have received unanimous support.
Americans can only hope that more Democratic senators will follow Fetterman’s example and stand with their electors instead of illegal immigrants with a criminal history.
“House Republicans heard the voices of those who wanted change and voted to pass the Laken Riley Act,” Johnson said Tuesday.
“The American people did not just deliver a mandate on November 5th, they delivered a verdict. They made it clear they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families,” said
