Collins sponsored the legislation, which has since passed both chambers. It is named after Laken Riley, the student who was killed at the University of Georgia by Jose Ibarra, 26, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.

Ibarra was arrested in the U.S. before killing Riley, and authorities knew he was an illegal immigrant but released him back into the country instead of deporting him. Under the Laken Riley Act, federal authorities can detain illegal immigrants who commit theft-related crimes.

“You take Ibarra, he had committed minor-level criminal activity and was cited for it. He was cited for shoplifting a week before he murdered Laken. This bill simply inserts minor-level crime. Because these people are coming into our country. They are bringing their criminal trade, and they’re seeing what they can get away with,” Collins said on Fox News’s Fox and Friends on Thursday. “The more they get away with, the higher the escalation in the criminal activity to the point where they are raping and murdering American citizens.”

Still, 159 Democratic House members voted against the act, leaving 48 in favor of the first legislation to go to President Donald Trump’s desk. Some members voted against the legislation because they weren’t provided votes on amendments they favored.

“This was a bipartisan solution to a bipartisan problem. But you’re going to have a few. You will always have a few,” Collins said of the dissenting Democratic members. “Most of the debate … really had nothing to do with the actual legislation. It was just a rant.”

Ibarra was convicted of murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and tampering with evidence last year. He was sentenced to life in prison.