Senate breaks filibuster on Laken Riley Act, bill passes with bipartisan support

President Donald Trump scored a mountain of wins on Day One back in the White House, but one of the most significant is that the Republican-controlled Senate passed the Laken Riley Act.

According to Fox News, the Senate passed an amended version of the measure on Monday evening, with bipartisan support in a 64-35 vote. The bill will now head back to the House, where it is expected to be quickly approved.

The legislation, named after Laken Riley, a nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant who crossed the border on President Joe Biden's watch, will ramp up detention powers for law enforcement agencies regarding the arrest of illegals with prior records.

BREAKING: The Laken Riley Act has passed out of the Senate! pic.twitter.com/BtjC4JDPRA

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) January 20, 2025

The bill will be the first to hit President Trump's desk after it overcame the legislative filibuster's 60-vote threshold twice this month.

Several notable Democrats voted for the bill.

Fox News noted: "Democrats that joined Republicans to support the bill were Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Gary Peters of Michigan, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Mark Warner of Virginia and Raphael Warnock of Georgia."

The bill packs a punch as far as giving law enforcement the ability to apprehend some of the more dangerous illegals who enter the country.

Fox News noted:

The measure would require ICE to arrest and detain illegal immigrants that have committed theft, burglary or shoplifting until they are deported. States would also be granted standing under the legislation to take civil action against members of the federal government that do not enforce immigration laws.

Several senators released statements in the wake of the bill's passage in the upper chamber.

"The Senate just passed the Laken Riley Act. This critical legislation will strengthen public safety and protect our communities. I’m looking forward to President Trump signing this life-saving legislation," Sen. Katie Britt Boyd (R-AL) wrote on X. 

Britt was credited with leading the charge in the Senate to muster the support needed to pass the bill and break the filibuster once and for all.

The bill's passing was overwhelmingly supported across social media.

President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law in the near future without issue.