First on Fox: Senate Republicans are preparing to take several measures in the new year that Democrats denied a vote in the last Congress. The first of these Laken-Riley lawis being reintroduced by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, and preparing for a vote by the end of the week.
The measure is named after the 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was found dead on the University of Georgia campus in February. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, He was found guilty Of 10 total charges, including felony murder. He initially pleaded not guilty.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in November.
The bill will require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Arrest and detain illegal immigrants who have committed theft, burglary, or shoplifting until they are deported. In addition, under this legislation states would be required to take civil action against members of the federal government who do not enforce immigration law.
The Laken-Riley Act was first introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Collins in March and in the Senate by Sen. Katie Britt. (Getty Images)
“It is impossible to fully describe what was taken from Lakin and from our family on February 22, 2024. Lakin’s life was so intensely and exceptionally full of promise. She was a beautiful, shining beacon in the lives of all who knew her. And not just the people who knew and loved Lakin.” They lost a beautiful soul, but so did our world. She shared her love for Jesus with everyone she met and everyone felt Lakin's passion to share her faith through acts of kindness,” said Allison and June Phillips, Lakin's mother, Riley “She met Lakin and she was selfless, hardworking, made those around her feel special, and not only spoke about her faith, but led by example,” she and her husband said in a statement.
“The Lakin-Riley Act has our full support because it will help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of grief we have witnessed. Lakin would have turned 23 on January 10th. There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue Her legacy by saving lives Through this bill, every member of Congress should be able to support a purely common-sense bill that will make our country and our communities safer Brett and Senator Ted Budd to continue the work to honor Laken's legacy and pass This legislation becomes law.”
It was first introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., in March, and in the Senate by Brett.
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Ibarra has pleaded not guilty. (Brynn Anderson/Pool via AP)
However, the bill never received a vote in the Senate regarding standalone legislation.
Republicans have a next triumvirate in the federal government, united in their priorities for the southern border and tackling illegal immigration, and GOP lawmakers see ample opportunity to advance key legislation.
“Last year, Laken Riley was stolen from this earth — from her family, her friends, and from realizing her dreams — by a brutal, heartless killer. Make no mistake — he should never have been in the United States, let alone allowed to roam freely,” Britt said in a statement to the network. Fox News Digital: “America's Streets After being charged with multiple crimes, Lakin's killing was a direct result of intentional open border policies.”
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Britt introduced the bill last year. (Kevin Deitch/Getty Images)
“The American people did not just issue a mandate on November 5th, they issued a ruling. They have made clear that they want to remove illegal aliens and protect American families. We will soon know whether Democrats hear, respect, and obey this ruling. Congress has an obligation To Lakin, her family, and families in every corner of our country for doing everything we can to help prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again, which is why it's imperative that we pass the common-sense Lakin-Riley Act. She added: “No. “No other American family should feel the pain that the Lakin family still feels 320 days after their loss.”
“An illegal criminal came to my district and killed Laken-Riley because our local law enforcement did not have the tools to stop him,” Collins said in his own statement. “Lacken fought until her last breath, and I will do so until this bill reaches the end.” line and land on the president's desk.”
The Senate measure was co-led by Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, who said in a statement: “What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen. As we turn the page on Joe Biden’s disastrous open-border policies, The Lakin Reilly Act will enable the Trump Administration to enforce our laws, keep our nation safe, and prevent tragedies, and I thank Senator Britt for her partnership and leadership in this bipartisan effort.
Now that Republicans control the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the helm, a vote on the bill is expected, and in short order.
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Thune is the new Senate Majority Leader. (Ting Xin/AFP via Getty Images)
A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that the vote will likely take place in the Senate on Friday, and Democrats will have to record it.
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If the measure has only Republican support, it will fail to overcome the legislative filibuster, which requires bills to get 60 votes to end debate and move forward. It is worth noting that freshman Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., voted for the bill in the House last year.
The vote will highlight Georgia's Senate delegation, where Reilly was a member of the delegation. In particular, all eyes will be on Senator Jon Ossoff, Democrat of Georgia, who will run for re-election in 2026 in a state won by President-elect Donald Trump.
