The House is moving to consider legislation, named after a murdered Georgia nursing student, that would require the detention of any undocumented immigrant convicted of theft.
The Laken Riley Act, apparently introduced on Friday, will be before the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, per a notice — the final step before floor action. The legislation would require the detention of anyone charged or convicted of "the essential elements of any burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offense," according to the text.
Riley was allegedly murdered by an undocumented immigrant who entered the U.S. illegally from Venezuela. Republicans renewed calls for stricter immigration policies, repeatedly taking to the House floor this week to highlight the case.
"Is there anything more horrific than we have seen from the Laken Riley situation — how an illegal from Venezuela made it across the border illegally, went to New York, committed all kinds of crimes, was let out by the weak, foolish, ideological prosecutors in New York, and then went on to Georgia and murdered a beautiful young girl?" asked Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) on the floor Thursday.
