Biggs hopeful 'Laken Riley Act' will be on Trump's desk by inauguration

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said that he is hopeful that President-elect Donald Trump will be able to sign the "Laken Riley Act" when he gets into office if it's approved by the Senate.

"I am hopeful that this bill under Majority Leader Thune is going to come to the floor quickly and be on President Trump's desk before he gets inaugurated," Biggs said Tuesday on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show.

The House on Tuesday passed legislation to expand U.S. authority to detain illegal immigrants who have been accused of theft-related crimes.

The bill was named after Georgia nursing student Laken Riley who was murdered by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Biggs went on to praise Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., for co-sponsoring the bill. 

"This is good news, because John Fetterman, who's proven to be kind of a maverick senator from Pennsylvania... is the lead sponsor in the Senate," he said.

Other Democrat senators who have supported the bill include Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.

The bill got bipartisan support in the House with 48 Democrats and 216 Republicans voting for it.