President Donald Trump is one step closer to signing a major piece of immigration-related legislation into law after the GOP-controlled U.S. Senate passed the Laken Riley Act. This marks the first significant legislative victory for the upper chamber of the new Congress, bringing immigration reform back into the national spotlight.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 64-35, with all Republicans and 12 Democrats supporting the measure. Immigration, a cornerstone of Trump’s political agenda, has long served as a focal point for the GOP, particularly as they seek to maintain pressure on Democrats following the 2024 midterm elections.
What Is the Laken Riley Act?
The Laken Riley Act mandates the federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft, burglary, and other offenses. Named after Laken Riley, a college student tragically murdered in Athens, Georgia, nearly a year ago by a Venezuelan immigrant who had been released following a shoplifting arrest, the bill symbolizes the GOP’s renewed push to strengthen immigration enforcement.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) described the bill as a critical step in safeguarding communities.
“This legislation will ensure that illegal aliens who steal or assault a law enforcement officer are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement instead of being allowed out on the streets,” Thune declared before the vote. “I’m looking forward to getting this legislation to the president’s desk.”
Bipartisan Support and Key Amendments
The bill’s passage saw support from prominent Democratic senators in battleground states, including John Fetterman (Pa.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), and Mark Warner (Va.)
In addition to the core legislation, the Senate approved Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) amendment, dubbed Sarah’s Law, by a vote of 75-24. This amendment expands the bill to include the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes resulting in death or serious bodily harm. Sarah’s Law is named in honor of Sarah Root, who tragically lost her life in a 2016 vehicle crash involving an undocumented immigrant who later posted bail and fled the U.S.
Democratic Opposition and Concerns
Not all Democrats were in favor of the legislation. Concerns arose over provisions that allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants upon arrest rather than upon conviction. Additionally, the bill grants state attorneys general the authority to sue federal immigration officials over detentions, a clause that Democrats sought to remove but ultimately failed to amend.
Critics argue that the bill will be prohibitively expensive and challenging to enforce. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that implementing the legislation will cost nearly $27 billion in the first year alone.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a vocal opponent, warned of the bill’s broader implications. “I’ve spent a lot of energy trying to show how Democrats care deeply about border security. We’ve got to be engaged in a collective exercise to prove to the American people that we care more about border security than they do—but do that on our terms, not their terms.”
A Divided Democratic Caucus
The legislation has exposed rifts within the Democratic caucus. Some senators in battleground states, eager to show constituents their commitment to border security, supported the bill, weakening the party’s negotiating position. Senate Democrats described the internal debates as “intense,” as leadership struggled to reconcile differing priorities.
The Democratic opposition also pointed to the bill’s emphasis on detention over due process. One Democratic amendment sought to remove the clause granting state attorneys general expanded authority, but it failed to pass.
The Path Forward: House Approval and Final Hurdles
Before the Laken Riley Act can reach President Trump’s desk, it must pass the House of Representatives. While 48 House Democrats previously voted in favor of an earlier version of the bill, the Senate introduced revisions that require another vote in the lower chamber.
Senate Democrats remain divided on the path forward, with leadership facing significant challenges in maintaining party unity. The internal rift underscores the ongoing tension between addressing border security concerns and protecting immigrant rights.
GOP’s Legislative Push Amid Border Crisis
The legislative push follows years of Republican critiques of the Biden administration’s handling of immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border crisis. With record numbers of migrants entering the country, Republicans have weaponized immigration as a political tool, leveraging it to pressure Democrats and rally their base.
Democrats, meanwhile, have attempted to propose bipartisan solutions, but such efforts, including those led by Sen. Murphy, have failed to shift public opinion or significantly impact the party’s standing on the issue.
Public Opinion and Political Implications
Public sentiment on immigration remains sharply divided. Proponents of the Laken Riley Act argue that it is a necessary step to address crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and to ensure public safety. Critics, however, contend that the bill prioritizes detention over rehabilitation and imposes an unsustainable financial burden on ICE and DHS.
With the 2024 presidential election looming, the legislation also serves as a political statement for Republicans, reinforcing Trump’s tough-on-immigration stance. Democrats, on the other hand, face the challenge of addressing border security concerns without alienating their progressive base.
Conclusion
The Senate’s passage of the Laken Riley Act marks a significant milestone in immigration reform under President Trump. While the bill’s provisions aim to strengthen enforcement and accountability, its high costs and controversial measures have sparked fierce debate.
As the House prepares to vote on the revised bill, the outcome will not only shape U.S. immigration policy but also serve as a litmus test for both parties’ ability to navigate one of the nation’s most contentious issues. For now, the Laken Riley Act represents both the promise and peril of legislating in a deeply polarized political climate.