Laken Riley Act
This bill requires federal immigration officials to take custody of and detain undocumented immigrants who are charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admit to theft, burglary, shoplifting, assaulting an officer, or crimes causing serious bodily harm. It also grants state attorneys general the authority to sue the federal government in court if federal agencies fail to enforce detention rules or release individuals on parole or bond. States can initiate these lawsuits if they can demonstrate as little as $100 in financial harm to the state or its residents.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- State attorneys general and authorized state officersSection 3 grants state attorneys general statutory standing and the authority to sue federal agencies in federal district court to compel enforcement of detention, expedited removal, visa sanctions, and parole limits whenever a state or its residents incur at least $100 in harm.
Who it burdens
- Inadmissible noncitizens accused or convicted of specified theft or violent crimesSection 2 makes them subject to mandatory federal immigration detainers and mandatory detention by DHS upon being arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or admitting to burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or crimes causing death or serious bodily injury.
- Department of Homeland SecuritySection 2 requires DHS to issue detainers and take custody of noncitizens who commit specified theft or violent offenses, and Section 3 exposes DHS to state-initiated federal lawsuits and injunctive relief over its detention, release, and parole decisions.
- Federal district courtsSection 3 requires federal district courts to advance on their dockets and expedite civil lawsuits brought by state attorneys general challenging federal immigration enforcement, parole, and visa sanction actions.
- Department of StateSection 3(c) authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Secretary of State to force the suspension of visa issuance to countries that refuse or delay accepting deported citizens.
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 7 provisions
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue detainers and take into mandatory custody inadmissible noncitizens who are arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or admit to committing theft, burglary, larceny, shoplifting, assaulting a police officer, or offenses causing death or serious bodily injury.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security in federal court to enforce detention and expedited removal requirements for arriving noncitizens, granting legal standing if the state or its residents experience at least $100 in harm.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials in federal court to challenge decisions that release detained noncitizens on bond or parole, requiring courts to expedite these cases.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security in federal court to challenge immigration parole decisions that are not granted on an individualized, case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security to enforce the mandatory detention of noncitizens who have received final orders of deportation during their removal period.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Secretary of State to enforce visa sanctions against foreign countries that refuse or delay accepting their deported citizens.
Exempts state-initiated lawsuits authorized by this Act from existing federal statutory restrictions that limit courts from enjoining immigration enforcement operations.
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue detainers and take into mandatory custody inadmissible noncitizens who are arrested for, charged with, convicted of, or admit to committing theft, burglary, larceny, shoplifting, assaulting a police officer, or offenses causing death or serious bodily injury.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security in federal court to enforce detention and expedited removal requirements for arriving noncitizens, granting legal standing if the state or its residents experience at least $100 in harm.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials in federal court to challenge decisions that release detained noncitizens on bond or parole, requiring courts to expedite these cases.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security in federal court to challenge immigration parole decisions that are not granted on an individualized, case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Authorizes state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security to enforce the mandatory detention of noncitizens who have received final orders of deportation during their removal period.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on Laken Riley Act.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 36 actions
- Became Public Law No: 119-1.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 263 - 156 (Roll no. 23). (text: CR H277-278)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 263 - 156 (Roll no. 23). (text: CR H277-278)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H285-286)
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of the debate on S. 5, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Raskin demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 5.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 471 and S. 5. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 471 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of S. 5 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to commit.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 53. (consideration: CR H277-284)
- Rule H. Res. 53 passed House.
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 53 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 471 and S. 5. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 471 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of S. 5 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to commit.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 35. Record Vote Number: 7. (text: CR S250-251)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 35. Record Vote Number: 7.
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S246-251)
- Cloture on the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 61 - 35. Record Vote Number: 5. (CR S240)
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S237-241)
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S198-218)
- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S182)
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S161-182)
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S130)
- Measure laid before Senate by motion.
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 82 - 10. Record Vote Number: 2. (CR S87)
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S83)
- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 9. Record Vote Number: 1. (CR S73)
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S70)
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S46)
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S46)
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1.
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Introduced in Senate
- Became Public Law No: 119-1.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 263 - 156 (Roll no. 23). (text: CR H277-278)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 263 - 156 (Roll no. 23). (text: CR H277-278)
- Rule H. Res. 53 passed House.
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 53 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 471 and S. 5. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 471 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of S. 5 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to commit.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 35. Record Vote Number: 7. (text: CR S250-251)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 35. Record Vote Number: 7.
- Cloture on the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 61 - 35. Record Vote Number: 5. (CR S240)
- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S182)
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 82 - 10. Record Vote Number: 2. (CR S87)
- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 9. Record Vote Number: 1. (CR S73)
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S46)
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- Introduced in Senate
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
- Public Law 119-1
- primary source →
- primary source →
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-s-5. Congress.gov record as of Jul 30, 2026.