US Congress Passes Hardline Immigration Bill, Named After Murdered Student Laken Riley

President Donald Trump achieved a major victory for his immigration agenda on Wednesday, as the Republican-controlled US Congress passed the controversial Laken Riley Act.
The bill, a significant step in Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, is now set to be signed into law. The legislation is named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was tragically murdered by a Venezuelan undocumented immigrant.
The suspect, who had been wanted for shoplifting, was convicted in 2021 for Riley's death. Trump has frequently referenced Riley's case in his campaign speeches, using it to emphasize his concerns about crime committed by undocumented immigrants.
The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related offenses, including shoplifting, burglary, and assault on law enforcement officers.
The bill also expands mandatory detention to include individuals charged with crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. After clearing the Senate with a 64-35 vote, the bill passed the House of Representatives by a 263-156 margin, with 46 Democrats crossing party lines to support the measure.
The bill now heads to Trump’s desk for his signature. Once signed, it will be the first major piece of legislation Trump enacts during his administration. Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, celebrated the bill’s passage, emphasizing the importance of protecting American citizens.
“Criminal illegal aliens must be detained, deported, and NEVER allowed back into our country,” Johnson wrote on social media, adding that Americans deserve “safety and security.” While the bill received significant bipartisan support, it has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats.
Opponents argue that it could cost upwards of $83 billion to implement over the next three years—far exceeding the Department of Homeland Security’s annual budget. Some critics also point out that the bill would detain individuals who have not yet been convicted of crimes, raising concerns about due process and the potential strain on detention facilities.
During the House debate, Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, voiced concerns over what they see as an unfair expansion of detention without conviction. Ocasio-Cortez accused Republicans of focusing on “violent criminals” while pardoning those convicted for the January 6th Capitol riot, adding a layer of irony to the debate.
Despite the criticism, Republicans defend the bill as necessary to secure the nation’s borders and protect citizens. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa called it a decisive move to end the era of "open borders and lawless chaos," emphasizing that the safety of Americans must come first. The legislation also includes provisions allowing state attorneys general to sue the federal government if they believe national immigration policies harm their residents.
However, it does not allocate new funding for the additional detention measures, which has raised concerns about its feasibility and cost-effectiveness. As Trump prepares to sign the bill into law, the passing of the Laken Riley Act marks a milestone for his hardline immigration policies, further igniting the national debate over immigration reform and the treatment of undocumented immigrants in the US.