On Wednesday, President Donald Trump enacted the first legislation of his administration, named in honor of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia whose tragic death energized his campaign. Trump expressed gratitude for the bipartisan support the bill garnered since his inauguration on January 20.
The legislation, referred to as the Laken Riley Act, mandates the detention of unauthorized immigrants who face charges related to theft or violent offenses. The bill received support from both political parties in Congress, with Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, present during the signing ceremony at the White House.
To provide context, Laken Riley was a 22-year-old student at Augusta University’s College of Nursing. She lost her life on February 22, 2024, during a confrontation with Jose Antonio Ibarra while she was out jogging. Ibarra, who had previously been apprehended for illegal entry into the U.S. but released pending his immigration court case, was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Trump and some Republicans attributed Riley’s murder to policies of former President Joe Biden, arguing that Ibarra’s freedom to act was a direct result of immigration laws at the time.
Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican from Georgia, stated, “If this act had been the law of the land, he never would have had the opportunity to kill her.” Biden referenced Riley in his State of the Union address, particularly following an outburst from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who insisted he acknowledge her name.
The Laken Riley Act is designed to ensure that federal authorities detain any immigrant charged with crimes such as shoplifting, assaulting a police officer, or any offense resulting in injury or death. Sen. Katie Britt from Alabama remarked on the necessity of the legislation, asserting that individuals who enter the U.S. illegally and commit crimes should not enjoy freedom.
Additionally, the new law gives state attorneys general the power to sue the federal government regarding issues arising from immigration enforcement failures, such as the dismissal of deportation orders or the release of migrants from custody. This provision aims to empower states in shaping immigration policies that they feel have been negatively impacted by federal administration changes under both Trump and Biden.
Although Republicans have a majority in Congress, the bill saw support from 46 Democrats in the House and 12 in the Senate.
However, several Democrats opposed the legislation, emphasizing concerns that it could infringe on the civil rights and due process of migrants, including minors and those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York articulated this view, cautioning that accusations could lead to individuals being detained without proper legal recourse.
Further criticism arose regarding the bill’s lack of funding. Democrats on the Appropriations Committee projected that the legislation would incur approximately $83 billion in costs over the following three years. Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut labeled the bill a “totally unfunded mandate.”
Conversely, some Democrats chose to support the bill, primarily from battleground states, due to their constituents’ desire for enhanced border security and the detention of criminals among migrants. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada highlighted her stance, saying, “Anyone who commits a crime should be held accountable. That’s why I voted to pass the Laken Riley Act.”
Other Democrats backing the bill included New Hampshire Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Virginia Senator Mark Warner, all of whom are facing re-election next year. Fetterman, a Senate Democrat advocating for a secure border, was noted as the first Democrat to meet with Trump post-election and has occasionally deviated from party lines on policy matters. Newly elected Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona expressed his endorsement as well, emphasizing that law enforcement should be equipped to act against illegal immigrant offenders to prevent incidents similar to Laken Riley’s tragedy.
