U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Ted Budd, John Thune, John Fetterman, Colleagues Introduce Laken Riley Act in 119th Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced the introduction of her first bill of the 119th Congress, the Laken Riley Act. Joining Senator Britt in reintroducing this companion bill in the Senate are Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.Dak.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and the entire Senate Republican Conference. This legislation was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Mike Collins (R-Ga.).
“It’s impossible to fully describe what was taken from Laken and from our family on February 22, 2024. Laken’s life was abundantly and exceptionally full of promise. She was a beautiful, shining beacon in the life of everyone who knew her. Not only did the people who knew and loved Laken lose a beautiful soul, but so did our world. Laken shared her love for Jesus with everyone she encountered. Laken’s passion for sharing her faith through acts of kindness were felt by everyone she met. Laken was selfless, hardworking and made those around her feel special. Laken did not just talk about her faith, she led by example,” said Allyson and John Phillips, Laken Riley’s mother and stepfather. “The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of heartbreak we’ve experienced. Laken would have been 23 on January 10th. There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill. Every single member of Congress should be able to get behind this purely commonsense bill that will make our country and communities safer. We thank Congressman Mike Collins, Senator Katie Britt, and Senator Ted Budd for continuing to work to honor Laken’s legacy and get this legislation enacted into law.”
The Laken Riley Act would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes. This legislation would also ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
“Last year, Laken Riley was stolen from this earth—from her family and friends and from achieving her dreams—by a brutal, heartless killer. Make no mistake—he never should have been in the United States, much less allowed to freely roam American streets after being charged with multiple crimes. Laken’s murder was the direct consequence of willful open border policies,” said Senator Britt.
“The American people did not just deliver a mandate on November 5th, they delivered a verdict. They made it clear they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families. We will soon know whether Democrats hear, respect, and obey that verdict. Congress has an obligation to Laken, her family, and to families in every corner of our country to do everything in our power to help prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again. That’s why it’s imperative we pass the commonsense Laken Riley Act with all due haste. No other American family needs to feel the pain Laken’s family still feels 320 days after losing her,” continued Senator Britt.
“What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen. As we turn the page from the disastrous open-border policies of Joe Biden, the Laken Riley Act will empower the Trump administration to enforce our laws, keep our nation secure, and prevent tragedies. I thank Senator Britt for her partnership and her leadership in this bipartisan effort,” said Senator Budd.
“Laken Riley’s horrific murder at the hands of an illegal alien should have never happened,” said Senator Thune. “There is an urgent need to take action regarding the border crisis to protect the American people, which is why this is the first bill the Senate will vote on this Congress. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue – it’s a matter of basic public safety and common sense, and the Senate has a responsibility to act.”
“Laken Riley’s story is a tragic reminder of what’s at stake when our systems fail to protect people. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to preventable violence,” said Senator Fetterman. “Immigration is what makes our country great. I support giving authorities the tools to prevent tragedies like this one while we work on comprehensive solutions to our broken system.”
“An illegal criminal came into my district and killed Laken Riley because our local law enforcement did not have the tools to stop him. Laken fought until her last breath, and so will I until this bill crosses the finish line and lands on the President’s desk,” said Representative Collins.
The entire Senate Republican Conference has cosponsored the Laken Riley Act for the 119th Congress, including Senators J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Curtis (R-Utah), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Rounds (R-N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Since taking office, Senator Britt has been a champion for securing America’s southern border and enforcing immigration law across our nation’s interior. Last Congress, she and Senator Budd introduced the Senate companion to the Laken Riley Act, after its introduction in the House by Rep. Collins. In the 118th Congress, the legislation passed the House in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 251-170. Senate Democrats, however, refused to give the bill a committee hearing or floor consideration. On multiple occasions, Senate Democrats blocked the measure from passing by unanimous consent.
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