What it does
SourcedLaken Riley Act
This act 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, shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person. The act also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.
Under this act, 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 the above crimes.
The act 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.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Jan 29, 2025).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.
What has happened
Sourced- 2025-01-29Became Public Law No: 119-1.Library of Congress
- 2025-01-29Signed by President.Library of Congress
- 2025-01-23Presented to President.Library of Congress
- 2025-01-22Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 263 - 156 (Roll no. 23). (text: CR H277-278) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
- 2025-01-20Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 35. Record Vote Number: 7. Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
- 2025-01-06Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress
Cosponsors
- Rep. Jim Banks R-IN-3
- Sen. John Barrasso R-WY
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn R-TN
- Sen. John Boozman R-AR
- Rep. Ted Budd R-NC-13
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito R-WV
- Sen. Bill Cassidy R-LA
- Sen. Susan M. Collins R-ME
- Sen. John Cornyn R-TX
- Sen. Tom Cotton R-AR
- Sen. Kevin Cramer R-ND
- Sen. Mike Crapo R-ID
- Sen. Ted Cruz R-TX
- Sen. John R. Curtis R-UT
- Sen. Steve Daines R-MT
- Sen. Joni Ernst R-IA
- Sen. John Fetterman D-PA
- Sen. Deb Fischer R-NE
- Sen. Ruben Gallego D-AZ
- Sen. Lindsey Graham R-SC
- Sen. Chuck Grassley R-IA
- Sen. Bill Hagerty R-TN
- Sen. Josh Hawley R-MO
- Sen. John Hoeven R-ND
- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith R-MS
- Sen. Ron Johnson R-WI
- Sen. John Kennedy R-LA
- Sen. James Lankford R-OK
- Sen. Mike Lee R-UT
- Sen. Cynthia M. Lummis R-WY
- Sen. Roger Marshall R-KS
- Sen. Mitch McConnell R-KY
- Sen. David McCormick R-PA
- Sen. Jerry Moran R-KS
- Sen. Bernie Moreno R-OH
- Rep. Markwayne Mullin R-OK-2
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski R-AK
- Sen. Rand Paul R-KY
- Sen. Pete Ricketts R-NE
- Sen. James E. Risch R-ID
- Sen. Mike Rounds R-SD
- Sen. Marco Rubio R-FL
- Sen. Eric Schmitt R-MO
- Sen. Tim Scott R-SC
- Sen. Rick Scott R-FL
- Sen. Tim Sheehy R-MT
- Sen. Dan Sullivan R-AK
- Sen. John Thune R-SD
- Sen. Thomas Tillis R-NC
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville R-AL
- Sen. J. D. Vance R-OH
- Sen. Roger F. Wicker R-MS
- Sen. Todd Young R-IN