The House passed a bill Thursday named for slain Georgia nursing student Laken Riley that would require any migrant who committed burglary or theft be detained.
The House passed the Laken Riley Act by 251-170 with 37 Democrats joining all 214 Republicans, The Hill reported.
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., sponsored the bill and urged "the Senate to take up the bill immediately."
According to a press release from Collins, the Laken Riley Act:
- Calls for the reinstatement of "Remain in Mexico."
- Requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement detain migrants who commit theft-related crimes.
- Allows state attorneys general to sue the secretary of Homeland Security if immigration actions harm their state or its residents.
Riley, 22, a nursing student at the Augusta University College of Nursing, was found beaten to death Feb. 22 on the University of Georgia campus after she went out for a run. Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was in the U.S. illegally, was arrested on murder and assault charges in connection to her death.
On Wednesday, Collins said he had invited Riley's parents to be his guests at the State of the Union address, but they declined.
"I invited Laken Riley's parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter," Collins posted on X.
"Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime."
Collins told Newsmax Thursday that he spoke with Riley's parents and got their permission to put her name on the proposed legislation, with her parents saying, "If it will help save the life of one person, then please put her name on it."
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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