House passes Laken Riley Act, sending the first bill to Trump to sign into law
NBCJan 22
Congress Passes Laken Riley Act, Trump's First Bill to Sign
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Above: US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), flanked by Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO), Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on Jan. 22, 2025, in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kent Nishimura/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The Laken Riley Act is headed to US Pres. Donald Trump's desk after the House of Representatives passed it on Wednesday by a vote of 263-156, with 46 Democrats joining all Republicans in support. This is the second time the bill has passed the House.
The bill requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain unauthorized immigrants who are charged with crimes including theft, shoplifting, assault on law enforcement, or offenses resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
The bill also allows state attorneys general to sue federal officials for not enforcing immigration laws. It was named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered last year by José Ibarra, an unauthorized immigrant who had previous arrests but was released before trial.
The Spin
Republican narrative
This bill couldn't have been more straightforward in its intention, which is why many Democrats broke from their progressive colleagues to help it pass. The issue of criminal illegal aliens roaming the country freely has negatively impacted both red and blue states, and the murder of Laken Riley, whose killer had been caught shoplifting just a week prior, was the tipping point.
Democratic narrative
The reason Democrats helped pass this bill is because they care about the safety of Americans just as much as anyone else. This law is specifically targeted at criminals who should face the same legal punishments for robbery, assault, or murder as any American citizen. As for deportations, the only ones facing such a consequence will be violent offenders and murderers, which the majority of voters want.
Progressive narrative
While it's no surprise that Republicans pushed for this bill, it's deeply concerning that dozens of Democrats joined them, betraying the party's supposed commitment to human rights and fairness. This bill, which will expand deportations over mere accusations, not convictions, echoes autocratic tendencies. Thanks to them, the US government will spend billions of dollars on kicking people out of the country instead of creating a stronger immigration system.
Conservative narrative
While Trump's recent immigration policies are a good starting block, they should not be seen as a final victory. The Laken Riley Act and reversal of Biden's parole misuse demonstrate a return to enforcement normalcy, but normalcy is where this problem began in the first place. To prevent future misuse by Democrats, Trump should strengthen legal frameworks around parole, ensuring it remains a rare, emergency tool, not a backdoor for mass immigration.
