Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala, said in an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday she is confident the Laken Riley Act will continue to garner support in the U.S. Congress.

The legislation would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest undocumented immigrants charged with theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses and mandate those suspects be detained until they are deported so they cannot reoffend.

Britt initially introduced the act in 2024, but the bill was dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate. Britt, a newly named deputy whip, reintroduced the act earlier this month and the bill became the first piece of legislation taken up by the new Republican Senate majority and the first bill passed by the GOP-led House.

The act advanced Thursday in the U.S. Senate with an assist from some Democrats.

READ MORE: Katie Britt’s Laken Riley Act advances in Senate with help from Democrats

In Sunday’s appearance on “State of the Union,” Jake Tapper noted that some Democrats have pointed out issues with the way the bill is written, saying the act could result in “thousands of people being detained indefinitely for being accused of a crime without actually being charged or convicted, violating due process rights.”

“Are they wrong?” Tapper asked Britt during the segment.

In response, Britt said the Laken Riley Act was “ultimately going to save lives.”

“It is a common-sense piece of legislation and it actually puts the talk that we’ve been having over the last four years into action,” said Britt, adding that there has “been no more litigated issue over the last four years than President Biden and Vice President Harris’ open border policies.”

“It is my belief that the American people entered a verdict on that on Nov. 5, saying we are ready for secure borders. We want our streets and communities to be safe and secure. This is our first step to doing that. This is a targeted piece of legislation. It goes directly to the heart of the tragedy that occurred with Laken Riley.”

The act is named after Laken Riley, a University of Georgia nursing student who was killed in 2024 by Jose Antonio Ibarra, an undocumented Venezuelan national, while jogging on campus. The incident, which garnered national attention, impacted the debate on immigration.

“I think as we continue to debate this and talk about the merits of it this week, it will garner more support,” Britt told Tapper, noting that the bill so far this year had the support of more than 40 Democrats. “So it’s a bipartisan piece of legislation that is 60 percent of the House. I expect it to get 60 percent or more in the Senate.”

While Tapper acknowledged widespread support for deporting violent undocumented immigrants, he circled back on the issues politicians expressed about the bill, specifically about indefinitely detaining undocumented immigrants who commit non-violent crimes without formally being charged.

“Is that not a concern?” he asked.

In response, Britt said at the end of the day, the Laken Riley Act wouldn’t affect people who don’t commit crimes.

“The Democrats have to wake up and realize that Americans are sick of excuses and they are ready for action,” said Britt. “As long as you don’t commit a crime, this doesn’t apply to you. And I think people would agree that if you do commit a crime, you should go to the front of the line when it comes to detention and removal.”