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U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., discussed her role pushing for the Laken Riley Act’s passage, as well as her support for President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees during a Monday media appearance.
During a Jan.13 appearance on conservative talk show “Rightside Radio,” Britt expressed her hope that the Laken Riley Act will be ready for President-elect Donald Trump to sign into law on his first day in office.
“I am diligently working to move this forward and to make sure that it is on a path to be on President Trump’s desk on the day he is sworn in,” Britt said.
Britt continued, “I mean how good will that feel? To know that we are actually doing things that matter that you know that will keep our communities—that can keep our children safe and that start to change the dynamic of what it means to come here illegally and commit crimes against American citizens. There are repercussions to that, and this will be a big moment.”
The Laken Riley Act was originally introduced by U.S. Representative Mike Collins, R-Ga., last legislative session where it was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill is named after Georgia nursing student, Laken Riley, who was killed in February 2024, by an undocumented immigrant with a previous arrest for theft.
It would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to keep illegal immigrants charged or convicted of theft, burglary or shoplifting in custody until they can be deported. It also gives states’ permission to pursue civil cases against the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws, if financial harm to the state or its residents exceeds $100.
Britt, who reintroduced the Laken Riley Act in the 119th Congress, expressed happiness that the bill passed in the House again on Jan. 7, with the support of all Alabama representatives.
Britt said the bill currently has 55 confirmed yes votes in the Senate, and she has been working to gain the additional five needed for passage.
“I have been thrilled by the support and momentum this bill continues to gain,” Britt said. “I think that the momentum what I am hearing, the conversations I’m having with my colleagues, I am calling Democrats, I am talking to Democrats. I am saying, ‘Now is the time to act. Now is the time to save America’s children.’”
Britt also thanked U.S. Sen. John Fetterman D-Pa. and U.S. Sen. Rubio Gallego, D-Ariz., for cosponsoring the bill.
“I was very excited to have my good friend John Fetterman co-sponsor the Laken Riley Act and come out be the very first Democrat willing to stand with us in the Senate,” Britt said.
While the Laken Riley Act has seen some bipartisan support from Democrats, critics of the bill have argued that it would lead to overdetention of undocumented immigrants before or without conviction, without genuinely improving public safety.
Addressing criticisms of the bill, Britt said, “You don’t have to worry about it if you don’t go commit a crime.”
Britt also expressed her excitement to support Trump’s cabinet appointees saying, “The very first thing we know we need to do is get his people in place that can help execute his vision.”
Britt described her meetings with Trump’s cabinet appointees as “exceptional” and “very transparent.”
“The Republican caucus at large understands that we’ve got to in there that are willing to shake things up. Business as usual is not working,” said Britt. “Business as usual is not what the American people voted for. They voted for transformational leaders that understand that we have got a window of time to take our country back.”
Britt highlighted how she has discussed what appointees can do for Alabama, expressing support for secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth, with whom Britt said she discussed relocating the U.S. Space Command headquarter to Huntsville.
“We talked about how important it is to have Space Command in Huntsville, Ala., its rightful home,” Britt said.
Britt also expressed her support of secretary of education appointee Linda McMahon’s support for school choice policies, saying, “We talked about how critically important it is, talked about the steps that Alabama has—has made in that area and ways that we can work together to continue and improve that across the country.”
