House passes bill named after slain nursing student Laken Riley that allows states to sue DHS for harms from illegal immigration

The House of Representatives passed its first major piece of legislation of the new Congress Tuesday, mandating border enforcement officials detain illegal immigrants who steal — and permitting states to sue the federal government over the ill effects of mass migration.In a 264-159 vote, 216 Republicans and 48 Democrats banded together to pass the Laken Riley Act, named after a Georgia nursing student murdered last year by an illegal migrant.The Republican-held Senate is expected to take up the bill later this week.Among the four dozen Dems who helped pass the legislation were New York Reps.

Laura Gillen, Joe Morelle, Ritchie Torres, John Mannion, Tom Suozzi and Josh Riley.Under the Laken Riley Act, illegal immigrants who are arrested, charged or convicted of “burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting” must be held by immigration authorities.The Laken Riley Act also allows state attorneys general to sue the feds for not enforcing immigration law.Should state or local officials not step up, the Homeland Security secretary is ordered to “effectively and expeditiously take custody of the alien” — a mandate that would override Democratic jurisdictions’ so-called “sanctuary policies,” which discourage cooperation with federal authorities in immigration cases.“Laken Riley was brutally murdered by an illegal alien that President Biden and the Democrats let into this country with their open border policy.

It is hard to believe after countless horrific stories like Laken’s, ANY House Democrats would vote against deporting illegal aliens who commit violent crimes against American citizens,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in a statement.“But 159 just did, demonstrating some Democrats have ignored the loud and clear message from voters in this election who demanded secure borders, the deportation of violent illegal aliens, and laws that put the safety and security of the American people first.”The bill previously cleared the lower chamber in...