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H.R. 29

U.S. House•Senate Floor Calendar

Summary

H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act, was introduced in the House on Jan 3, 2025 by Rep. Mike Collins (R) with 54 co-sponsors. It last saw action on Feb 10, 2025: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.

Record

Text

H.R. 29 has 54 co-sponsors and 1 roll call.

hb29/engrossed-in-house.txt
119 HR 29 EH: Laken Riley Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I
 119th CONGRESS  1st Session
 H. R. 29
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Laken Riley Act  .
2.
Detention of certain aliens who commit theft
Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1226(c) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (C), by striking  or ;
(B)
in subparagraph (D), by striking the comma at the end and inserting  , or ; and
(C)
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
(E)
(i)
is inadmissible under paragraph (6)(A), (6)(C), or (7) of section 212(a), and
(ii)
is charged with, is arrested for, is convicted of, admits having committed, or admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of any burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offense,
 ;
(2)
by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2)
Definition
For purposes of paragraph (1)(E), the terms  burglary ,  theft ,  larceny , and  shoplifting  have the meaning given such terms in the jurisdiction where the acts occurred.
(3)
Detainer
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a detainer for an alien described in paragraph (1)(E) and, if the alien is not otherwise detained by Federal, State, or local officials, shall effectively and expeditiously take custody of the alien.
 .
3.
Enforcement by attorney general of a State
(a)
Inspection of applicants for admission
Section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b) ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3)
Enforcement by attorney general of a State
The attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging a violation of the detention and removal requirements under paragraphs (1) or (2) that harms such State or its residents shall have standing to bring an action against the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of such State or the residents of such State in an appropriate district court of the United States to obtain appropriate injunctive relief. The court shall advance on the docket and expedite the disposition of a civil action filed under this paragraph to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of this paragraph, a State or its residents shall be considered to have been harmed if the State or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.
 .
(b)
Apprehension and detention of aliens
Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1226 ), as amended by this Act, is further amended—
(1)
in subsection (e)—
(A)
by striking  or release ; and
(B)
by striking  grant, revocation, or denial  and insert  revocation or denial ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(f)
Enforcement by attorney general of a State
The attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging an action or decision by the Attorney General or Secretary of Homeland Security under this section to release any alien or grant bond or parole to any alien that harms such State or its residents shall have standing to bring an action against the Attorney General or Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of such State or the residents of such State in an appropriate district court of the United States to obtain appropriate injunctive relief. The court shall advance on the docket and expedite the disposition of a civil action filed under this subsection to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of this subsection, a State or its residents shall be considered to have been harmed if the State or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.
 .
(c)
Penalties
Section 243 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1253 ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(e)
Enforcement by attorney general of a State
The attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging a violation of the requirement to discontinue granting visas to citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents as described in subsection (d) that harms such State or its residents shall have standing to bring an action against the Secretary of State on behalf of such State or the residents of such State in an appropriate district court of the United States to obtain appropriate injunctive relief. The court shall advance on the docket and expedite the disposition of a civil action filed under this subsection to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of this subsection, a State or its residents shall be considered to have been harmed if the State or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.
 .
(d)
Certain classes of aliens
Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  Attorney General  each place it appears and inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(C)
The attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging a violation of the limitation under subparagraph (A) that parole solely be granted on a case-by-case basis and solely for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit, that harms such State or its residents shall have standing to bring an action against the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of such State or the residents of such State in an appropriate district court of the United States to obtain appropriate injunctive relief. The court shall advance on the docket and expedite the disposition of a civil action filed under this subparagraph to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of this subparagraph, a State or its residents shall be considered to have been harmed if the State or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.
 .
(e)
Detention
Section 241(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1231(a)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  During the removal period,  and inserting the following:
(A)
In general
During the removal period,
 ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(B)
Enforcement by attorney general of a State
The attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging a violation of the detention requirement under subparagraph (A) that harms such State or its residents shall have standing to bring an action against the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of such State or the residents of such State in an appropriate district court of the United States to obtain appropriate injunctive relief. The court shall advance on the docket and expedite the disposition of a civil action filed under this subparagraph to the greatest extent practicable. For purposes of this subparagraph, a State or its residents shall be considered to have been harmed if the State or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.
 .
(f)
Limit on injunctive relief
Section 242(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1252(f) ) is amended by adding at the end following:
(3)
Certain actions
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an action brought pursuant to section 235(b)(3), subsections (e) or (f) of section 236, or section 241(a)(2)(B).
 .
     Passed the House of Representatives January 7, 2025.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-01-03
  2. Passed House2025-01-07
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Jan 3, 2025

hb29/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (01/03/2025)

Laken Riley Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.

Under this bill, DHS must detain an individual who (1) is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission; and (2) has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

The bill also authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100. Specifically, the state government may sue the federal government over a

  • decision to release a non-U.S. national from custody;
  • failure to fulfill requirements relating to inspecting individuals seeking admission into the United States, including requirements related to asylum interviews;
  • failure to fulfill a requirement to stop issuing visas to nationals of a country that unreasonably denies or delays acceptance of nationals of that country;
  • violation of limitations on immigration parole, such as the requirement that parole be granted only on a case-by-case basis; or
  • failure to detain an individual who has been ordered removed from the United States.

Sponsors

Rep. Mike Collins (R) sponsors H.R. 29, and 54 members have co-sponsored it, 39 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 29 went before 1 committee: Judiciary.

Judiciary
Judiciary
Referred To · Jan 3, 2025 · 2,181 Bills

Actions

H.R. 29 has taken 13 actions since Jan 3, 2025, the latest on Feb 10, 2025.

ChamberAction
Feb 10, 2025
Senate
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 10.
Feb 6, 2025
Senate
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Jan 8, 2025
Senate
Received in the Senate.
Jan 7, 202511:19
House
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 5. (consideration: CR H53-61)
Jan 7, 202511:19
House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 29.

Votes

H.R. 29 went to 1 roll call in the House, the latest on Jan 7, 2025 at 264–159.

ChamberQuestion
Yea
Nay
Jan 7, 2025
House
On Passage
264
159

2 bills are related to H.R. 29.

Titles

H.R. 29 goes by 6 titles, 3 of them short titles.

  • To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • Laken Riley Act — Short Title(s) from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
  • Laken Riley Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • Laken Riley Act — Display Title
  • To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced
  • Laken Riley Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced

Lobbying

13 clients hired 13 firms and 64 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 29 in 17 quarterly filings, 2025. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Immigration, Budget/Appropriations, Defense, Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Education, Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Family issues/Abortion/Adoption.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.501(c)(4) social welfare organization supporting immigration policy reform.Virginia13—
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM—District of Columbia12—
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS—District of Columbia12—
AMERICAS VOICECommunications and immigrant rights advocacy non profit organizationDistrict of Columbia11$30K
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION—District of Columbia11—
CASA, INC.Immigrant right and services organizationMaryland11—
FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION—District of Columbia11—
HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA—District of Columbia11—
HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST—New York11—
KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE—District of Columbia11—
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN—District of Columbia11—
THE GEO GROUP, INC.—Florida11—
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY—Tennessee11—

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

RegistrantClientsFilingsReported
NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.13—
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM12—
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS12—
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION11—
CASA, INC.11—
FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION11—
HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA11—
HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST11—
KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE11—
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN11—
NAWAR STRATEGY11$30K
THE GEO GROUP, INC.11—
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY11—

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill. The 20 named most often, of 64.

LobbyistFirmsClientsFilings
MICHAEL HOUGH113
BREE SPENCER112
CHANEL SHERROD112
CHLOE WHITE112
ELIZABETH KING112
FRANK TORRES112
JESSELYN MCCURDY112
JOE CHATHAM112
JONATHAN WALTER112
KANYA BENNETT112
KYLEE REYNOLDS112
LENA ZWARENSTEYN112
LESLIE PROLL112
MAYA WILEY112
MEETA ANAND112
PEGGY RAMIN112
RAHUL RANDHAVA112
ALEX LEHMAN111
ALLEN HESTER111
AMELIA KEGAN111

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATIONFRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION2025 first_quarter$1M1st Quarter - Report
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTSLEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS2025 first_quarter$660K1st Quarter - Amendme…
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNIONAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION2025 first_quarter$560K1st Quarter - Report
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTSLEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS2025 first_quarter$530K1st Quarter - Report
THE GEO GROUP, INC.THE GEO GROUP, INC.2025 first_quarter$350K1st Quarter - Report
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYVANDERBILT UNIVERSITY2025 first_quarter$200K1st Quarter - Report
KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSEKIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE2025 first_quarter$150K1st Quarter - Report
HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICAHERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA2025 first_quarter$100K1st Quarter - Report
HUMAN RIGHTS FIRSTHUMAN RIGHTS FIRST2025 first_quarter$67.5K1st Quarter - Report
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORMFEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM2025 second_quarter$54.4K2nd Quarter - Amendme…
FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORMFEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM2025 first_quarter$54.4K1st Quarter - Report
CASA, INC.CASA, INC.2025 first_quarter$40K1st Quarter - Report
AMERICAS VOICENAWAR STRATEGY2025 first_quarter$30K1st Quarter - Report
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMENNATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN2025 first_quarter$10K1st Quarter - Report
NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.2025 third_quarter—3rd Quarter - Report
NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.2025 second_quarter—2nd Quarter - Report
NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.NUMBERSUSA ACTION, INC.2025 first_quarter—1st Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 29 under Immigration, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 10 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 29’s is Immigration.

hr29/policy-areas.txt
ImmigrationAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 29 carries 10 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Border security and unlawful immigration to Visas and passports.

hr29/subjects.txt
Border security and unlawful immigrationCivil actions and liabilityCrimes against propertyCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDetention of personsImmigration status and proceduresIntergovernmental relationsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsState and local government operationsVisas and passports

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 29, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 1 (Friday, January 3, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. COLLINS:H.R. 29.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution authorizesCongress to enact laws relating to the removal of aliens fromthe United States.The single subject of this legislation is:This legislation adds to the list of crimes for whichImmigration and Customs Enforcement must issue a detainer forthe apprehension and deportation of aliens unlawfully presentin the United States. It also authorizes state governments tosue the federal government for injunctive relief on behalf ofits residents.[Page H36]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com