First aired on FOX: Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., has become the second Democratic lawmaker to co-sponsor the Laken-Reilly Act, which will be voted on the Senate floor Friday after passing the House on Tuesday.
The measure would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities to arrest illegal immigrants for crimes such as theft, robbery and shoplifting and detain them until they can be deported. Under the bill, states would also have the right to file civil lawsuits against federal officials who fail to enforce immigration laws.
“Arizonas know the real-world consequences of today’s border crisis,” Gallego told FOX News Digital in a statement. “To prevent situations like what happened to Laken Riley, we must give law enforcement the means to take action when illegal immigrants break the law.”
“I will continue to fight for the safety of Arizonans by pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and stronger border security.”
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Gallego is the second Democratic co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act. (Getty Images)
The bill was reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) in the 119th Congress. It was named after a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was found dead on the University of Georgia campus in February. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, was found guilty on 10 charges, including felony murder. He initially pleaded not guilty.
He was sentenced to life in prison without parole in November.
The House passed the bill 264-159 on Tuesday, with 48 Democrats joining Republicans.
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Republicans, on the brink of a trifecta in Washington, plan to force the Laken-Reilly Act to a vote. (Getty Images)
“I want to thank Senator Gallego for co-sponsoring the bipartisan Laken Riley Act. This common-sense bill will keep American families safe, and every senator should support it.” Britt said in a statement after Gallego joined the bill.
Alabama senators reintroduced the bill to the Senate on Tuesday after first introducing it last year. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S., immediately prepared the bill for a floor vote on Friday.
Britt’s bill has the full support of all Senate Republicans and is currently co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and Gallego.
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Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the bill’s first Democratic co-sponsor. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, via Getty Images/File)
Mr. Gallego was notable for voting in favor of the bill in the House last year, becoming one of dozens of Democrats to do so.
Arizona Democrats won a competitive state Senate race in November, taking over the seat vacated by former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who did not run for re-election. Despite President-elect Donald Trump leading the battleground state, Gallego defeated Trump ally Kari Lake in the election.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) told FOX News Digital that he would vote in favor of the bill. Democrats are also up for re-election in Michigan, another state won by Trump, in 2026.
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Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is up for re-election in 2026. (Reuters/Mike Seeger/File)
Republicans will ultimately have a majority of 53 seats in the Senate. However, due to a delay in the swearing-in of West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice, the majority in the convention remains at 52 seats.
The bill needs 60 votes to get past the legislative filibuster. Therefore, the fate of this bill is expected to hinge on the votes of a few Democratic senators.
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This vote will put the spotlight on Georgia’s Senate caucus, especially since Riley was a member of it. All eyes will be on Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), who is running for re-election in yet another state won by Trump in 2026.
Ossoff did not comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication.
Julia Johnson is a political writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, where she leads coverage of the U.S. Senate. She previously served as a political reporter for the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia’s reporting on X. @juliaajohnson_ Send your tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
