How do Collins and Ossoff differ on immigration?22 Sourced Claims, Contested Facts & Evidence

Topic summary

Compare their Senate and House records on enforcement, asylum, and border funding.

Key research questions

• Investigate "Georgia Senate: Mike Collins vs.

Important claims and supporting citations

• Jon Ossoff was one of 12 Senate Democrats who voted for final passage of the Laken Riley Act in a 64–35 vote on January 20, 2025.

  • https://www.dailypress.senate.gov/monday-january-20-2025/
  • https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/watch-in-senate-floor-address-sen-ossoff-warns-of-grave-national-security-risk-if-bipartisan-border-security-bill-blocked/
  • https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00049.htm?congress=118&session=2&vote=00049

• Mike Collins authored the House version of the Laken Riley Act, introduced after the February 22, 2024 murder of Laken Riley.

  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act
  • https://www.dailypress.senate.gov/monday-january-20-2025/
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/laken-riley-act-overwhelmingly-passes-us-house-bipartisan-support

• Jon Ossoff criticized Democrats as being 'in denial' about border risks and faulted the Biden administration's border security policies during a May 2024 Senate floor speech.

  • https://www.dailypress.senate.gov/monday-january-20-2025/
  • https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/watch-in-senate-floor-address-sen-ossoff-warns-of-grave-national-security-risk-if-bipartisan-border-security-bill-blocked/
  • https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00049.htm?congress=118&session=2&vote=00049

• In an October 13, 2026 debate, Ossoff stated that parts of the Laken Riley Act were overbroad and should be corrected, while Collins defended the law as passed.

  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/laken-riley-act-overwhelmingly-passes-us-house-bipartisan-support
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-laken-riley-act-heads-president-trumps-desk

• On November 30, 2023, Collins voted for H.R. 5283 to prohibit the use of federal lands to provide housing for noncitizens, which passed 224–203.

  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/laken-riley-act-overwhelmingly-passes-us-house-bipartisan-support
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-laken-riley-act-heads-president-trumps-desk

• The Laken Riley Act provides state attorneys general standing to sue the federal government for injunctive relief regarding immigration parole decisions and alleged detention violations.

  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/laken-riley-act-overwhelmingly-passes-us-house-bipartisan-support
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-laken-riley-act-heads-president-trumps-desk

• Provisions in H.R. 2 supported by Collins directed the Department of Homeland Security to resume border wall construction within seven days and spend unobligated prior border wall appropriations.

  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/laken-riley-act-overwhelmingly-passes-us-house-bipartisan-support
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-laken-riley-act-heads-president-trumps-desk

• Mike Collins voted for the original House Laken Riley Act (H.R. 7511) on March 7, 2024 (passed 251–170) and its reintroduced version (H.R. 29) on January 7, 2025 (passed 264–159).

  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/laken-riley-act-overwhelmingly-passes-us-house-bipartisan-support
  • https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-laken-riley-act-heads-president-trumps-desk

Outstanding questions

• The Laken Riley Act provides state attorneys general standing to sue the federal government for injunctive relief regarding immigration parole decisions and alleged detention violations.
• H.R. 2 contained language requiring employers nationwide to verify employment authorization using E-Verify.
• H.R. 2 sought to restore a version of the 'Remain in Mexico' policy requiring certain asylum applicants to wait in neighboring countries during their proceedings.
• H.R. 2 included provisions to restrict asylum eligibility based on entry between ports of entry and transit through third countries, as well as accelerated removal procedures.
• The Laken Riley Act mandates federal custody of unlawfully present noncitizens upon arrest or charge for theft-related offenses, assault on law enforcement, or crimes causing death or serious bodily injury, rather than requiring a conviction.
• H.R. 2 authorized increased funding and resources for Border Patrol personnel, surveillance technology, biometric and DNA collection, flight hours, and Operation Stonegarden grants.