House lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday afternoon requiring federal agents to detain illegal immigrants suspected of committing non-violent crimes, the chamber’s first action of the 119th Congress.The House voted 264-159 to pass the Laken Riley Act, with 48 Democrats joining 216 Republicans in voting for the legislation, which is named after the Georgia nursing student brutally murdered last year by an illegal immigrant.

“I’m thankful that the House passed the Laken Riley Act in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner. No family should have to go through what Laken’s has endured,” said Representative Mike Collins (R., Ga.), who first introduced the legislation last year and represents the area where Riley was murdered.

“It’s now up to the Senate to work together to put this crucial legislation on President Trump’s desk.”

Last congress, 37 Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the Laken Riley Act but the bill did not go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

This time around, the bill heads to a GOP-controlled Senate where it is picking up momentum. Democrats John Fetterman (Pa.) and Gary Peters(Mich.) have backed the legislation alongside their Republican colleagues.

“ICE reported tens of thousands of migrants with criminal records — homicide or sexual assault. 425,000 have criminal records in total and should be deported. I support a secure border. I support a legal path for Dreamers. I support the Laken Riley Act,” Fetterman said Tuesday on X.

Fetterman and Peters are both from swing states that President-elect Donald Trump won this past November against outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris. Peters is up for reelection in 2026 for what is expected to be a competitive race.

Senator Katie Britt (R., Ala.) is leading the Republican Senate push to get the Laken Riley Act passed ahead of Trump’s inauguration. She introduced companion legislation Tuesday alongside Fetterman, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), Senator Ted Budd (R., N.C.), and the rest of the Senate GOP.

“Laken’s life was abundantly and exceptionally full of promise. She was a beautiful, shining beacon in the life of everyone who knew her. Not only did the people who knew and loved Laken lose a beautiful soul, but so did our world,” said Allyson and John Phillips, Riley’s mother and stepfather.

“Laken shared her love for Jesus with everyone she encountered. Laken’s passion for sharing her faith through acts of kindness were felt by everyone she met. Laken was selfless, hardworking and made those around her feel special. Laken did not just talk about her faith, she led by example.”

The Senate is expected to vote Friday on the Laken Riley Act. It needs 60 votes to overcome the filibuster on its way to passage.

“The American people did not just deliver a mandate on November 5th, they delivered a verdict. They made it clear they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families,” Britt said.

“We will soon know whether Democrats hear, respect, and obey that verdict. Congress has an obligation to Laken, her family, and to families in every corner of our country to do everything in our power to help prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again.”

Trump has promised to launch mass deportations of illegal immigrants upon returning to power later this month, a sharp reversal from the Biden administration’s permissive approach towards the southern border.

The GOP’s hardline stance on border security aligned closely with public opinion as the Biden administration allowed record numbers of illegal immigrants to cross the southern border, some of whom committed high-profile violent crimes upon entering the U.S. illegally.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan illegal alien, was sentenced to life in prison in November for committing the bloodthirsty murder of Riley as she was jogging around the University of Georgia’s campus.

Before killing Riley, Ibarra crossed the southern border and received a taxpayer-funded flight to New York City and stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel along with many other new arrivals. From there, Ibarra was given a flight to Georgia and worked at a Korean restaurant, his former roommate testified during the trial.

Ibarra’s killing of Riley became sparked a national conversation last year about President Biden’s lax immigration policy and migrant crime. Biden said Riley’s name during his State of the Union address after heckling from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.), but butchered the pronunciation and took heat from progressives for referring to Ibarra as an “illegal.”