The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act this week with a 264-159 vote and it will now head to the Senate.
The legislation is named for Laken Riley, a nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant while jogging on the University of Georgia’s campus.
The bill would mandate federal immigration authorities to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft-related crimes and would allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused by illegal immigration.
Jose Ibarra, sentenced to life in prison for Riley’s murder, was previously cited for shoplifting but was released without being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to bill author Rep. Mike Collins.
While Minnesota’s Republican delegation stood united in support of the Laken Riley Act, there was a divide among the state’s Democrats.
Rep. Angie Craig broke ranks with her DFL colleagues to join Republicans and 47 other Democrats in voting “yes.”
Reps. Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum, and Kelly Morrison—all Democrats—voted “no,” drawing outrage among constituents and Alpha News readers, who took to social media to express their frustration.
“Those voting against are the lowest form of a politician,” “Democrats are proving over and over again how they hate the people of this country,” and “These very same Democrats that vote no for this are the same ones who feel they need private security. What a joke!” read some of the comments.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman also weighed in during an appearance on Fox News, stating that unwillingness from some Democrats to back the bill is a key reason why the party struggles to connect with voters.
“If you’re here illegally and you’re committing crimes … I don’t know why anybody thinks that it’s controversial that they all need to go,” Fetterman said.
John Fetterman admonishes his fellow Democrats for opposing the Laken Riley Act:
"If we can't come up with at least 7 votes [from Democrat Senators] – that's a reason we lost."
"If you're here illegally and you're committing crimes, I don't know why anybody thinks that it's… pic.twitter.com/J9vLvvi0tS
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 8, 2025
Alpha News reached out to Reps. Omar, McCollum, and Morrison for comment on their “no” votes but did not receive a response.
“When this bill was introduced last year, Senate Democrats and the White House ignored it. This week, I’m saddened and surprised to say, there were still 159 House Democrats who voted against it,” Republican Rep. Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota said in a statement. “Had the policies in this bill been in place before Laken Riley’s tragic murder, local authorities would have reported her killer to ICE before he had the opportunity to commit this heinous crime and Laken would still be alive today. It is commonsense legislation to keep our communities safe.”
The U.S. Senate is expected to begin debate on the bill Thursday.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
