The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to advance the Laken Riley Act that would require federal immigration authorities to detain illegal migrants who commit theft-related crimes in the U.S. The legislation would also allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused to their residents because of illegal immigration.
The bill passed the House in a 264-159 vote Tuesday with every Republican voting in favor of it. Forty-eight Democrats ended up voting in favor of the bill while 159 House Democrats voted against. Six House Democrats who previously opposed the bill in the last Congress changed their mind and flipped their votes.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, was convicted in November of killing Riley, 22. He was arrested by University of Georgia police.
Senate Republicans believe it will end up officially passing the Senate the following week.