Legislative Oversight

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Public Law 119–1: 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. 
 Public Law 1 
 Public Law 119–1 139 Stat. 3 
 2025-01-29 
 2025-01-29 
 United States Government Publishing Office National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register 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. 
 GPO Locator to USLM Converter 4.15.98;Stage2.20260514 2026-06-23 
 119 public 
 
 PUBLIC LAW 119–1—JAN. 29, 2025 
 139 STAT. 3 
 Public Law 119–1 
 119th Congress 
 
 
 
 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. Jan. 29, 2025 [ S. 5 ] 
 
   Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa­tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Laken Riley Act. 
 SECTION 1. 8 USC 1101 note . SHORT TITLE.   This Act may be cited as the “ Laken Riley Act ”. 
 SEC. 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, shoplifting, or assault of a law enforcement officer offense, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person,” 
 ; 
 
 
 (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’, ‘shoplifting’, ‘assault of a law enforcement officer’, and ‘serious bodily injury’ have the meanings given such terms in the jurisdiction in which 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.” 
 . 
 
 SEC. 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: 139 STAT. 4 
 “(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 paragraph (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 such term appears and inserting “ Secretary of Homeland Security ”; and 139 STAT. 4 
 (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: 139 STAT. 5 
 “(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).” 
 . 
 
 
 Approved January 29, 2025 . 
 
 
 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY — S. 5 ( H.R. 29 ): 
 
 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025): 
 Jan. 13–17, 20, considered and passed Senate. Jan. 22, considered and passed House. 
 
 DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2025): 
 Jan. 29, Presidential remarks. 
 
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• Immigration & Border

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