Mike Collins U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 10th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Mike Collins U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 10th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
The United States House of Representatives has approved the Senate companion of Rep. Mike Collins' Laken Riley Act with a vote tally of 263-156. The bill saw support from 46 Democrats alongside all House Republicans and will now proceed to President Trump's desk for his signature, marking it as potentially the first legislation he signs into law.
Rep. Mike Collins commented on the bipartisan effort, stating, "Today, Republicans and Democrats put partisan politics aside to save lives and reform a broken system that has failed American citizens across the country."
The act is named in memory of Laken Riley, a nursing student who was killed by an illegal immigrant at the University of Georgia in February 2024. It aims to provide local law enforcement and ICE with resources to detain and deport illegal immigrants involved in specific crimes such as shoplifting, assault against police officers, or any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Additionally, it allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if certain immigration actions negatively impact them or their citizens.
Rep. Mike Collins expressed pride in the bipartisan nature of the legislation: "The Laken Riley Act is bipartisan legislation that fixes a bipartisan problem, and I am proud that the country has come together to ensure that no family must live through the pain that an illegal immigrant has caused Riley’s. Laken Riley was in school to save lives, and although her opportunities were taken away, her name will live on as this bill prevents deaths like hers."
Senator Katie Britt led the bill's passage in the U.S. Senate where it was approved by a vote of 64-35.
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