Today, the House of Representatives moved forward with a key part of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed immigration policy, passing a bill that would pressure Homeland Security to detain and deport illegal immigrants arrested for minor crimes, such as shoplifting.
The bill, named the Laken Riley Act in honor of a Georgia nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant last year, passed the House easily with a vote of 264-159. Forty-eight Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the legislation. Senate Republicans are also preparing to bring the bill to a vote as the newly GOP-led Congress quickly takes steps to fulfill a significant Trump campaign promise.
Rep. Mike Collins, a Georgia Republican, stressed the urgency of the bill, saying, “We need to get these people off the streets. These criminals are getting bolder and bolder while our communities become more and more unsafe. Our lax policies, they gave her murderer the courage to kill Laken Riley.” Collins represents the area where Riley was killed in February of the previous year. Her death has helped turn immigration into a political issue for President Biden, who presided over the largest surge in illegal immigration in U.S. history. Among those arriving was Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan immigrant who was caught and released at the border in 2022 under a Biden “parole” program.
Ibarra went on to be arrested multiple times in New York City and Georgia but was never considered a priority for deportation under the directives of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Despite these arrests, Homeland Security issued Ibarra a work permit in December 2023, just months before he murdered Riley. He was convicted later that year and sentenced to life in prison.
The Laken Riley Act aims to force U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport illegal immigrants involved in theft-related crimes such as shoplifting, larceny, and burglary. The bill also provides a way for states to bring civil lawsuits against federal officials who fail to enforce immigration laws, reversing a 2023 Supreme Court decision that ruled Texas did not have standing to challenge Mayorkas’s relaxed enforcement policies.
Democrats who opposed the bill argued that it violated the rights of illegal immigrants by calling for deportation after an arrest for minor crimes, even before any conviction. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, envisioned a scenario where a young adult illegal immigrant could be arrested simply for being part of a group where a friend committed shoplifting. “The consequences would be devastating under this legislation — mandatory detention and deportation from this country just for having been arrested, even if never charged,” Raskin explained. He also expressed concern about the bill’s provision allowing states to sue federal officials over immigration enforcement.
While Republicans pushed the bill, some expressed doubt that it would be necessary once Trump assumes office. Still, they argued that it was important to prevent a return to Biden-like policies under a future Democratic administration. A similar version of the Laken Riley Act was passed in the GOP-controlled House last year with a 251-170 vote, with 37 Democrats in support. The latest vote saw 48 Democrats back the bill, indicating a slight shift in the political landscape surrounding illegal immigration.
Though the Senate, which was controlled by Democrats last year, did not vote on the bill, it is likely to receive attention now that the GOP controls both chambers of Congress. Newly appointed Majority Leader John Thune has already initiated steps to bypass the committee process and bring the bill directly to the Senate floor. However, to pass, the bill will likely need to overcome a filibuster, requiring the support of at least eight Democratic Senators. One such supporter is Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, who is co-sponsoring the Senate version of the bill alongside almost every Senate Republican.
The Senate bill is being led by Senators Katie Britt from Alabama and Ted Budd from North Carolina. “The American people did not just deliver a mandate on November 5, they delivered a verdict. They made it clear they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families. We will soon know whether Democrats hear, respect, and obey that verdict,” said Britt.
{Matzav.com}