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S. 5: Laken Riley Act

119th Congress · introduced 2025-01-06 · Immigration · Latest: Became Public Law No: 119-1.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Laken Riley Act

Plain summary

Laken Riley Act This act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person. The act also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. Under this act, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of the above crimes. The act also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a decision to release a non-U.S. national from custody; failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews; failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country; violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Laken Riley Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] · 53 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

James E. Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Boozman (R-AR), John Kennedy (R-LA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Jim Banks (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Tim Scott (R-SC), Todd Young (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John R. Curtis (R-UT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), David McCormick (R-PA), Rand Paul (R-KY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] reported raising $3.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-s5 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills