WASHINGTON - Following House-passage of the Laken Riley Act, legislation to provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and state governments more tools to fight crime committed by illegal immigrants, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) helped introduce the companion bill in the Senate.

The bill, named in honor of Laken Riley, a nursing student who was killed by an illegal immigrant on the University of Georgia campus last month, would require ICE to arrest illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses and would mandate these offenders’ detention until they are removed from the United States so they cannot commit further crimes.

Additionally, this legislation would ensure that states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.

“The Biden administration’s open-border policies have created chaos in cities across the U.S. since President Biden took office. The consequences of this dangerous practice are outrageous and we owe it to the American people to end it and safeguard their communities,” Boozman said. “I urge Senator Schumer to bring this bill to the floor so no other family has to bear this unimaginable loss again.”

Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Ted Budd (R-NC) led introduction of the Laken Riley Act in the Senate.

“Make no mistake – Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy,” said Britt.

Joining Boozman, Britt and Budd as original cosponsors of the legislation were Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

The updated text of the bill can be found here.