Laken Riley Act Could Have Implications for Higher Ed
Jessica Blake
January 14, 2025
The bill would force harsher detention policies and could impact visas for lawful, documented individuals applying to work or study in the States.
Approval of U.S. visas—which has historically been up to federal officials in Washington—could soon be put in the hands of state attorneys general, creating immense uncertainty for colleges, universities and the international students and scholars they serve.
It all depends on whether the Senate passes the Laken Riley Act, an immigration measure that Republicans have championed as one of their first actions of the new 119th Congress.
Named after an Augusta University nursing student who was murdered in Athens, Ga., early last year by an undocumented migrant with a criminal record, the bill’s primary aim is to introduce harsher detention policies. But another section of the legislation that has largely flown under the radar could impact visas for lawful, documented individuals applying to work or study in the States.
