Bill

H.R. 29 (119th): Laken Riley Act

Laken Riley Act This bill 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, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. Under this bill, 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 burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill 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.

house · Substantive

Rankings updated October 26, 2026, 11:44 AM ET · Votes through September 30, 2026
Exported candidates: 719 | Filings on file, by office: H: 5838 | P: 1467 | S: 1567. These counts include every filing for that office, so they are larger than the ranked list. One person can have more than one filing. Non-voting delegates are left out.

Official source

Summary

Recorded summary

The Laken Riley Act would require DHS to detain certain non-U.S. nationals who are unlawfully present or lacked necessary admission documents and who have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admitted to conduct meeting the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. It would also let states sue the federal government for injunctive relief over specified immigration decisions or failures (such as certain releases from custody, asylum-interview inspections, visa issuance, parole limits, and failures to detain people under removal orders) when they cause the state or its residents harm, including financial harm over $100.

detentionimmigrationproperty_crimepublic_safetystate_standingunclear

Theological note: Scripture grounds civil protection of property and public order (Romans 13:1-4; Exodus 22:1-4) while also requiring just and merciful treatment of the sojourner (Leviticus 19:33-34) and equal justice under law (Deuteronomy 1:16-17). The bill's relevance lies in weighing lawful protection against theft with fair process and proportionate treatment of noncitizens, not in a direct moral verdict on the measure as a whole.

Scoring

How this bill is scored

Debt and war Cloture and Tier 1 Procedural votes Scoring mechanics

Roll

Recorded votes

Roll 6 · 7-Jan-2025 1:27 PM · On Passage · Passed

Yea 264 · Nay 159 · Other 11

Yea

Nay

Other

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