WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) joined Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) today in introducing the Laken Riley Act to ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or violate the law. This legislation was also introduced by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

“The Biden administration’s open border policies impact every state, community and family in America,” said. Sen. Moran. “Laken Riley should still be alive today. Deporting illegal migrants with criminal records is common sense. States should be able to protect their citizens by holding the federal government accountable when it fails to uphold the law.”

“Make no mistake – Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy,” said Sen. Britt. “I am grateful for Representative Collins’ strong leadership and for Senator Budd’s partnership in introducing this Senate companion bill. Senator Schumer should bring this bill to the Senate floor immediately.”

“States should be able to protect their citizens from the Biden administration’s lawless, open border policies by seeking relief in federal court,” said Sen. Budd. “That’s why I am joining Senator Britt to introduce the Senate version of the Laken Riley Act. We simply cannot tolerate any more senseless tragedies like this one. What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen.”

"The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly and on a bipartisan basis," said Rep. Collins. "I am grateful to Senator Britt for taking the lead on getting this vital legislation through the Senate so we can put Laken Riley's name on Joe Biden's desk and take a step toward preventing this from happening to another American."

This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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