Republicans and Senate Dems to Advance Anti-Illegal Immigration Bill Named After Laken Riley

Several Senate Democrats have stated that they will support a bill that mandates federal officials to detain illegal immigrants convicted of theft, thereby enhancing the measure's likelihood of approval in the upper chamber.

The bill is expected to receive 60 votes in the Senate, with at least eight Democrats voting in favor. This would allow it to overcome a filibuster if all Republicans vote in favor. After debate, a final vote on passage would be held, requiring only 51 votes to pass and send it to the president's desk.

All of the senators mentioned, except for Sen. Richard Blumenthal, have said they will support advancing the bill. Sen. Elissa Slotkin previously voted for the bill in the House.

Rosen stated, "I plan to support it because if you're a criminal, you should be held accountable."

Hickenlooper's office stated that he will allow the bill to proceed to amend it, but he does not back the Laken Riley Act in its present form.

According to a senior GOP staffer, they believe they have the necessary votes to move forward with a full debate. Kelly concurred with those sentiments.

When asked by Fox if it would receive more than 60 votes, he replied, "I believe it will."

The Laken Riley Act, which passed the House on Tuesday with 48 Democrats voting in favor, was named after a nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant on the University of Georgia's campus last year.

The bill not only mandates the federal government to detain illegal immigrants who have committed theft, burglary, or shoplifting until they are deported but also enables states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for any harm caused to their citizens due to illegal immigration. Jose Ibarra, Riley's murderer, had a history of theft arrests but had never been held in ICE detention.

The first bill presented in the House during the new Congress reflects the likelihood that addressing illegal immigration, both at the border and within the country, will be a top priority for Republicans and some Democrats.

Trump won his presidential campaign by focusing on the border crisis, which had been a problem for the Biden administration. He has promised to carry out a "historic" mass deportation campaign and his team intends to push back against "sanctuary" cities that refuse to comply with ICE.

In 2026, several Democrats who plan to support the bill face re-election battles, including Sens. Shaheen, Peters, and Hickenlooper. Illegal immigration could once again be a significant issue in these races, as it was in many contests during the 2024 election cycle.

Planet Chronicle' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.