House Passes Immigration Bill Amid Concerns from Civil Rights Groups

By Ritu Jha-

The House passed bill targeting undocumented immigrants is raising civil rights concerns.

On Jan. 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Bill H.R. 29, known as the Laken Riley Act, which aims to mandate the arrest and detention of undocumented immigrants convicted or arrested for certain offenses. The bill gained bipartisan support in the House, with 264 members voting in favor and 159 voting against, including 48 Democrats. It now has the backing of the Senate, where a companion bill, S. 5, was introduced on Jan. 9 by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.).

The bill is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed on the University of Georgia campus in February 2024 by Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant. Ibarra had previously been cited for shoplifting by Athens police.

Under the Laken Riley Act, undocumented individuals arrested or convicted of offenses such as burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting would face mandatory immigration arrest and detention, with no access to bail. The bill also targets visa holders arrested for similar crimes, as well as those who obtained visas through fraudulent means. It further grants state attorneys general the authority to sue the federal government to compel the detention and deportation of specific individuals, revoke humanitarian parole decisions, and halt visa issuance for entire countries.

The bill has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant and civil rights organizations, who warn that it disproportionately targets Black and Brown immigrant communities. Emily Neumann, an attorney at Reddy Neumann Brown PC, expressed concern to indica that the bill could lead to unintended consequences, particularly for lawful immigrants who may temporarily lack an active immigration status while awaiting visa renewal or extension. These individuals could be detained under the provisions of the bill, despite being otherwise compliant with U.S. immigration laws.

Neumann also raised alarms about the potential for the bill to impact the Indian community, noting that a provision allowing state attorneys general to halt visa issuance could disrupt skilled worker hiring, delay student visa processing, and separate families.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the bill, calling it part of former President Donald Trump’s “anti-immigrant agenda.” The organization warned that the legislation could lead to the detention of individuals based on minor accusations, such as unconfirmed shoplifting charges, even in cases where immigration authorities have ruled that detention is unnecessary.

The Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN) also criticized the bill, stating that while Riley’s death is a tragedy, using it as a justification to target entire immigrant communities is unjust. 

“Public policy should not penalize entire groups for the actions of one individual,” the organization said in a statement.

The bill now awaits further action in the Senate, where it has been introduced and is expected to be debated in the coming weeks. Trump, who will take office Jan. 20, is expected to sign the legislation if it passes.