Rep. Craig Regrets Voting for Laken Riley Act

Minnesota Democrat distances herself from bipartisan immigration legislation after backlash from primary opponent

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) announced that she regrets her previous vote in support of the Laken Riley Act, a bipartisan immigration law passed after the 2024 murder of a Georgia nursing student by an illegal immigrant. Craig, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), cited the return of former President Donald Trump to office and the impact of federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota as reasons for her change of position.

Why it matters

Craig's reversal on the Laken Riley Act highlights the political tensions around immigration policy, particularly as the 2024 presidential election and its aftermath have reshaped the political landscape. Her decision to distance herself from the legislation could impact her Senate campaign, as her primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, has strongly criticized the Laken Riley Act.

The details

The Laken Riley Act was passed with bipartisan support after the 2024 murder of a Georgia nursing student, Laken Riley, by an illegal immigrant. The law was intended to strengthen immigration enforcement and prevent similar crimes. However, Craig now says she "never thought the Laken Riley Act was a perfect bill" and that supporting it was a "difficult decision." She argues that the law allowed for the detention of both violent and nonviolent offenders, and that the text did not include the word "deportation." Craig also points out that other Democratic senators, including Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego, Raphael Warnock, and Jon Ossoff, came to the same conclusion about the bill.

  • In January 2026, Craig's opponent in the Minnesota U.S. Senate race, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, publicly criticized her for previously backing the Laken Riley Act.
  • On February 22, 2026, President Donald Trump declared February 22 'Angel Family Day' to honor families whose loved ones were killed by illegal alien criminals.

The players

Rep. Angie Craig

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN).

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan

The Democratic lieutenant governor of Minnesota and Craig's opponent in the U.S. Senate race.

Laken Riley

A 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered in 2024 near the University of Georgia campus, an incident that led to the passage of the Laken Riley Act.

Jose Antonio Ibarra

A Venezuelan illegal immigrant who was convicted of murdering Laken Riley.

President Donald Trump

The former president who returned to office and signed the Laken Riley Act into law.

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What they’re saying

“What is wrong with you, @RepAngieCraig? This is sick and demented.”

— White House Rapid Response Team (Twitter)

“The official position of the Democrat Party is that we don't get to have a country.”

— Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor (Twitter)

“I don't regret my vote and I don't regret writing the Laken Riley Act. I refuse to bend the knee just because people get their feelings hurt. The Laken Riley Act is about saving lives.”

— Rep. Mike Collins, U.S. Representative from Georgia (Breitbart)

“The Laken Riley Act was the first step in giving Trump the green light to terrorize our communities.”

— Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (Campaign event)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political tensions around immigration policy, particularly as the 2024 presidential election and its aftermath have reshaped the political landscape. Rep. Craig's reversal on the Laken Riley Act underscores the challenges lawmakers face in balancing public safety concerns with the rights of immigrants, and the potential political consequences of their decisions.