Laken Riley Act
Congress Passes Bill Requiring Federal Detention of Non-Citizens Charged with Theft or Burglary
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
264–159
Key Points
- This law requires the Department of Homeland Security to take into custody any non-citizen who is charged with, arrested for, or convicted of theft-related crimes. This includes offenses like shoplifting, burglary, and larceny.
- The policy mandates that federal authorities must issue a formal request to hold these individuals and take them into federal custody quickly if they are not already being held by local or state police.
- State officials, such as a State Attorney General, are given the power to sue the federal government if they believe federal agencies are failing to follow these detention and deportation rules.
- A state can take the federal government to court if they can show that the failure to detain someone caused the state or its residents at least $100 in financial harm.
- The goal of this policy is to prevent non-citizens who have been accused of crimes from being released back into the community while their legal or immigration cases are still being decided.
- Courts are required to fast-track any lawsuits brought by states under this law to ensure federal immigration requirements are being met quickly.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
This bill directly targets undocumented immigrants by requiring mandatory federal detention for anyone charged with, arrested for, or convicted of theft-related offenses including shoplifting, burglary, and larceny. Even a minor shoplifting charge — not a conviction — would trigger mandatory custody by the Department of Homeland Security, dramatically increasing the risk of deportation for this population.
Milestones
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Received in the Senate.
The Senate has received the House-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 264 - 159 (Roll no. 6). (text: CR H53-54)
Vote Results
1 voteRelated News
2 articlesHouse passes Laken Riley Act as Trump begins immigration crackdown
The House voted 263-156 to pass the Laken Riley Act, allowing ICE to detain undocumented immigrants for theft-related crimes and permitting state attorneys general to sue over federal policy. The bill's passage is an early legislative win for the administration's border security agenda.
Laken Riley Act: House passes immigration crackdown as first 2025 bill
The 119th House passed its first bill of 2025, the Laken Riley Act, requiring detention for undocumented immigrants arrested for non-violent crimes like shoplifting. The move signals the central role border security will play for Republicans under the incoming administration.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Laken Riley Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(54)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.