Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Katie Britt and Senator Ted Budd to introduce the Laken Riley Act which would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes. Additionally, this legislation would ensure that states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.

This bill is the Senate Companion to H.R. 7511, originally introduced by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.). The Laken Riley Act passed the House last week in a bipartisan vote of 251-170. The Senate cosponsors are urging Senator Schumer to bring the Laken Riley Act to the floor for a vote immediately.

Additionally, earlier this week, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Rand Paul, along with Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Josh Hawley and Roger Marshall, all members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting additional information on Jose Antonio Ibarra. Ibarra faces charges related to the murder of Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University on the campus of the University of Georgia. Read the full letter to Secretary Mayorkas HERE.

Read more from Senator Britt’s office below.

U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Ted Budd Introduce Laken Riley Act in Senate, Call for Immediate Consideration

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 13, 2024 — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) today introduced the Laken Riley Act, the Senate Companion to H.R. 7511, originally introduced by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.).

The Laken Riley Act would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes.

Additionally, this legislation would ensure that States have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.

The Laken Riley Act passed the House last week in a bipartisan vote of 251-170. The Senate cosponsors are urging Senator Schumer to bring the Laken Riley Act to the floor for a vote immediately.

“Make no mistake – Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy,” said Senator Britt. “I am grateful for Representative Collins’ strong leadership and for Senator Budd’s partnership in introducing this Senate companion bill. Senator Schumer should bring this bill to the Senate floor immediately.”

“States should be able to protect their citizens from the Biden administration’s lawless, open border policies by seeking relief in federal court. That’s why I am joining Senator Britt to introduce the Senate version of the Laken Riley Act. We simply cannot tolerate any more senseless tragedies like this one. What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen,” stated Senator Budd.

"The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly and on a bipartisan basis," said Representative Collins. "I am grateful to Senator Britt for taking the lead on getting this vital legislation through the Senate so we can put Laken Riley's name on Joe Biden's desk and take a step toward preventing this from happening to another American."

Original co-sponsors of the legislation include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Nebr.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebr.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.Dak.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.Dak.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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