The Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to limit debate on the Laken Riley Act, which compels border enforcement officials to take custody of illegal immigrants who commit theft and related crimes.
The 84-9 vote cleared the way for final passage of the measure, which could take place as soon as Friday — enabling it to be one of the first pieces of legislation signed into law by President-elect Donald Trump after clearing the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Under the act, states will also be able to sue the federal government for damages resulting from failure to enforce immigration law.
The bill is named after and was inspired by a Georgia nursing student who was attacked and brutally murdered while jogging by an illegal immigrant in February 2024.
The nine lawmakers in opposition included Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voted to advance the bill, but caveated that he wanted amendments to the measure.
The Laken Riley Act is the first bill of the 119th Congress to reach the Republican-controlled Senate.
Last year, when the chamber was under Democrat control, the bill stalled after being approved by the GOP-controlled House.
The legislation drew inspiration from the outcry surrounding the brutal killing of Riley, 22, by convicted Tren de Aragua gangbanger Jose Ibarra, 26.
Ibarra, from Venezuela, tried to rape Riley before strangling bludgeoning her with a rock on Feb. 22 of last year.
On Sept. 8, 2022, Ibarra illegally crossed the southern border into El Paso, Texas, before being set free due to insufficient detention space.
At one point, he was bussed to New York City, where he performed odd jobs.
Police detained Ibarra after he drove through the streets of Queens on a moped with his wife’s five-year-old son holding on the back without a seatbelt or head protection, law enforcement sources previously told The Post.
Ibarra was arrested for child endangerment as a result.
In December 2023, Ibarra made a court appearance in Georgia over a shoplifting case. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later said that it didn’t hold him following his prior New York arrest because he was set free before they could issue a detainer.
The Laken Riley Act was intended to shore up enforcement of immigration and fix the issues that went awry.
Republicans have eyed legislation like the Laken Riley Act as “low-hanging fruit” for Trump as quick and easy legislative wins when he takes office.
They are also working to iron out a more comprehensive suite of border reforms that will likely be packaged together with other key legislative agenda items.
