House passes bipartisan Laken Riley bill to expand US authority on detaining illegal immigrants

The House on Tuesday passed the "Laken Riley Act" in a bipartisan 264-159 vote. 

The bill received bipartisan support with 48 Democrats and 216 Republicans voting to for it. 

The Senate is expected to vote on it later this week.

The bill provides law enforcement with more authority to detain illegal immigrants who have been accused of theft-related crimes.

Earlier this year, Georgia nursing student Laken Riley was murdered by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.

"I promised Laken’s family that I would fight for this bill like she fought for her life," Collins wrote on X prior to the vote. "Let’s get this done."