ARTICLE UPDATE 1/29/25:
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Laken Riley Act into law as his administration’s first piece of legislation since taking office. It mandates the detention and potential deportation of people in the U.S. illegally who are accused of theft and violent crimes before they’ve been convicted.
The Feb. 2024 murder of Riley, the namesake of the bill, fueled the immigration debate ahead of the 2024 elections. Riley was killed on the University of Georgia campus by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan immigrant without legal status who was first arrested in Sept. 2022 on charges of illegal entry. Ibarra had also been arrested on misdemeanor shoplifting charges but was allowed to stay in the U.S. while his immigration case was ongoing.
The bill quickly passed the Republican-controlled Congress with some Democratic support, AP reports.
“With today’s action, [Riley’s] name will also live forever in the laws of our country, and this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together. That’s not easy to do,” Trump said before signing the bill. “This horrific atrocity should never have been allowed to happen, and as president, I’m fighting every single day to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”
ORIGINAL POST 1/23/25:
The House voted 263-156 Wednesday to pass a bill to require detention of undocumented migrants charged with certain crimes, with 46 Democrats joining all Republicans in support of the measure.
The Laken Riley Act is named after a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was murdered in Feb. 2024 by 26-year-old Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. Riley was killed while out for a run on the University of Georgia campus. A judge found Ibarra guilty of malice murder and felony murder in November, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
RELATED ARTICLE: Suspected Killer of Laken Riley Found Guilty, Receives Life Sentence
The proposed bill, written by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.), would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take custody of and detain undocumented immigrants who are charged, arrested, or convicted of committing acts of “burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting,” NBC News reports. The Senate adopted two amendments to add to the list of acts that trigger mandatory detention of unauthorized migrants, which include assault of a police officer and acts causing death or bodily harm to an individual.
During his 2024 campaign trail, President Donald Trump and other Republicans noted Ibarra had been cited for shoplifting by a Georgia police department but that ICE did not issue a detainer for him. He was never taken into custody.
“It’s bittersweet,” Collins said after the vote. “For a young lady that wanted to dedicate her career and her life to saving lives, now her name will live on forever and it will save lives.”
The legislation is expected to be the first bill Trump signs into law after returning to the White House for a second term this week.
Democrats, Republicans Give Input on Laken Riley Act
Pro-immigration activists say the bill is a scheme to take away due process from migrants. Some Democrats say it an unfunded mandate that will cost billions since it would require a massive increase in ICE capabilities. According to AP News, the Department of Homeland Security has estimated the Laken Riley Act would cost $26.9 billion in the first year to implement, including an increase in 110,000 ICE detention beds.
Others Democrats say the bill is too extreme.
“Laken Riley casts out a net to cuff, arrest and deport people who have committed minor offenses. In that sense, it is not a good thing,” Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), the new chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, told NBC News. “Any discussion that should be had here around the issue of border security, around the issue of immigration should include something on Dreamers, farm workers and families.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Trump Revokes Policy Barring ICE Raids at Schools, Churches
When asked about the divide in the party over the bill, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) told reporters, “The Democratic Caucus believes in a safe and secure border. We believe in order at the border and a fix to our broken immigration system. We also believe in ensuring the public safety of our communities.”
Where Do Americans Stand on Immigration?
According to NBC News exit polls, immigration ranked as the fourth-biggest concern among voters in the 2024 election, and those Americans voted for Trump over Democratic rival Kamala Harris 89% to 9%.
The vast majority of U.S. adults favor deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes, according to a recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. However, only 37% are in favor of deporting immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have not been convicted of a crime, AP News reports.
“While the bill is not perfect, it sends a clear message that we think that criminals should be deported,” said Representative Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who has called on his party to support tougher immigration enforcement.