H.R. 29

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · January 8, 2025

Table of contents

• H.R. 29
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Detention of certain aliens who commit theft
  • SEC. 3. Enforcement by attorney general of a State

SEC. 1. 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 () is amended— 8 U.S.C. 1226(c)
  • in paragraph (1)—
    • in subparagraph (C), by striking ;
    • in subparagraph (D), by striking the comma at the end and inserting ; and
      • (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,
    • by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
  • by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and
    • (2) Definition
      • For purposes of paragraph (1)(E), the terms , , , and have the meaning given such terms in the jurisdiction where the acts occurred. burglary theft larceny shoplifting
    • (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.
  • by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

SEC. 3. Enforcement by attorney general of a State

• (a) Inspection of applicants for admission
  • Section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act () is amended— 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)
    • by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
      • (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.
    • by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
• (b) Apprehension and detention of aliens
  • Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (), as amended by this Act, is further amended— 8 U.S.C. 1226
    • in subsection (e)—
      • by striking ; and
      • by striking and insert ; and
      • (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.
    • by adding at the end the following:
• (c) Penalties
  • Section 243 of the Immigration and Nationality Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 8 U.S.C. 1253
    • (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 () is amended— 8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)
    • by striking each place it appears and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security; and
      • 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.
    • by adding at the end the following:
• (e) Detention
  • Section 241(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act () is amended— 8 U.S.C. 1231(a)(2)
    • by striking and inserting the following:
      • (A) In general
        • During the removal period,
      • (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.
    • by adding at the end the following:
• (f) Limit on injunctive relief
  • Section 242(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act () is amended by adding at the end following: 8 U.S.C. 1252(f)
    • (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).