Laken Riley Act

Summary

Laken Riley Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. Under this bill, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a decision to release a non-U.S. national from custody; failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews; failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country; violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

House Committee on the Judiciary · U.S. House of Representatives

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Cosponsors

Recorded votes

• Vote: On Passage

  U.S. HouseJan 7, 2025Result: Passed

  Voted yes (264)Voted no (159)Voted present (0)Absent (11)

  See member positions

Related bills

• S. 5Laken Riley ActContained in public law
• H.Res. 5Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, and for other purposes.Related bill

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

1. Feb 10, 2025

   Introduced

   Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.

   U.S. House

2. Feb 10, 2025

   Read the Second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar Under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.

   Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.

   U.S. Senate

3. Feb 6, 2025

   Read the First time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar Under Read the First Time.

   Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

   U.S. Senate

4. Jan 8, 2025

   Sent to the executive

   Received in the Senate.

   U.S. Senate

5. Jan 7, 2025

   Considered as Unfinished business. (consideration: cr H61)

   Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H61)

Read the record

• Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.