WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Thursday, hours before President Joe Biden’s (D) State of the Union address.
The bill passed by a vote of 251-170.
The crux of the legislation is that it requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold any illegal immigrant who has been charged or convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
It would also allow state governments to bring action against the federal government to “seek injunctive relief from immigration enforcement decisions that have harmed the state or its residents.”
Republicans raised hell over the 170 Democrats who voted against the bill.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) stated that “there will be more victims” if Democrats could kill the bill.
170 House Democrats just voted against the Laken Riley Act, refusing to require the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants who have been caught committing a crime.
Sadly, if these Democrats have their way, there will be more victims like Laken Riley. https://t.co/SWOlvwzBVv— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) March 7, 2024
“170 House Democrats just voted against the Laken Riley Act, refusing to require the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants who have been caught committing a crime. Sadly, if these Democrats have their way, there will be more victims like Laken Riley,” said Speaker Johnson.
Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) was included in the discussion as well.
Laken Riley was murdered in cold blood by Jose Ibarra – an illegal alien who had committed previous crimes in NY.
This NEVER should have happened & today we voted to to ensure ALL criminal illegals like Ibarra will be arrested & detained.
170 Democrats STILL voted against this. pic.twitter.com/ubtm5XYYc2
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) March 7, 2024
“Laken Riley was murdered in cold blood by Jose Ibarra – an illegal alien who had committed previous crimes in NY. This NEVER should have happened & today we voted to to ensure ALL criminal illegals like Ibarra will be arrested & detained. 170 Democrats STILL voted against this,” said Rep. Donalds.
Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX) mentioned that President Biden will not address the passing of Laken Riley and his administration’s policies surrounding her death.
“I can tell you one thing we're not going to hear from the President of the United States…apologies for his policies that led to the unfortunate passing two weeks ago of Laken Riley.”#SayHerName pic.twitter.com/524t1euTHM
— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) March 7, 2024
“I can tell you one thing we're not going to hear from the President of the United States…apologies for his policies that led to the unfortunate passing two weeks ago of Laken Riley,” said Rep. Roy.
However, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (D-NY) accused Republicans of crafting a bill to only score a political victory.
“Republicans appear to have just thrown together language from existing, unrelated bills that target and scapegoat immigrants to score cheap political points in an election year, while doing nothing to address…the border.”
— Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) hammers the Laken Riley Act pic.twitter.com/TvHk56nTcZ
— The Recount (@therecount) March 7, 2024
“Republicans appear to have just thrown together language from existing, unrelated bills that target and scapegoat immigrants to score cheap political points in an election year, while doing nothing to address…the border,” Rep. Nadler said.
President Biden’s State of the Union address will begin at 9 p.m. EST.
