Laken Riley Act
Where it stands
- Introduced1/3/25
- Passed HousePassed 1/7/25
- Senate
- President
- Law
Passed the House 264–159 on January 7, 2025 (Roll Call 6 →). Received in the Senate on January 8, 2025.
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Roll calls on this bill
- Democratic48 Yea · 159 Nay · 8 Not voting
- Republican216 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Not voting
- Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Laken Riley Act
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.
Under this bill, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
The bill also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a
decision to release a non-U.S. national from custody;
failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews;
failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country;
violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or
failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.
What happens next
The Senate must pass the same text, then it goes to the President.
If it isn't enacted by Jan 3, 2027, it expires when the 119th Congress ends.
All actions (13)
- 1/3/25Introduced in House
- 1/3/25Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1/7/25Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 5. (consideration: CR H53-61)
- 1/7/25DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 29.
- 1/7/25The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 1/7/25POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 29, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Raskin demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- 1/7/25Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H61)
- 1/7/25Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 264 - 159 (Roll no. 6). (text: CR H53-54)
- 1/7/25On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 264 - 159 (Roll no. 6). (text: CR H53-54)
- 1/7/25Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 1/8/25Received in the Senate.
- 2/6/25Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- 2/10/25Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.