The Laken Riley Act, which President Trump signed into law on Wednesday, is his first legislative win since he returned to the White House in 2024 following a campaign focused on immigration and the border.
Last week, after the Senate’s bipartisan 64-35 ratification, the bill passed the House 263-156 with 46 Democratic votes.
This is a significant bill that has united Republicans and Democrats. Although it is difficult, Laken managed to achieve it. It was Laken. America will always remember Laken. During the bill signing, Trump referred to it as a historic law that could save the lives of many innocent Americans.
The bill mandates that many undocumented migrants, including those who are allowed to enter the country to apply for asylum, be detained if they are charged with shoplifting, burglary, or theft.
Several Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who co-sponsored the legislation in the upper house, attended the bill signing at the White House.
Trump thanked Democrats who voted against the bill and Republicans for their support, and he said those who did not vote for it would regret it.
One of the president’s main campaign platforms was targeting criminal immigrants, which appealed to supporters who desired stricter immigration laws.
The new law is named for Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia who was killed by a Venezuelan immigrant who had been paroled into the US after being caught for theft before the crime.
Riley’s mother addressed prior to the bill signing, calling Trump a man of his word. Riley’s sister and parents were also in attendance.
According to Mr. Trump, Laken was a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was both intelligent and attractive. Everyone, including her professors, respected her.
After Riley was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus, he added, her family went through a difficult time. Trump claimed that the Venezuelan migrant who killed her had been let into our nation by the previous government after being detained three times in the US.
“We are getting them the hell out of here,” he said, referring to the numerous deportations that have taken place since he assumed office.
In my capacity as president, I strive daily to prevent another catastrophe of this nature. “We don’t want this to occur,” he clarified.
He added that after four long years under former President Biden, the statute permits state governments to challenge the federal government for instant injunctive relief to stop a future administration from refusing to enforce immigration laws.
The bill signing was attended by cabinet members, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. There were also the relatives of other Americans killed by recent immigrants.
According to Trump, the previous administration failed many of the angel families present today with its callous, stupid, incredibly conceited, and extremely stupid policies—policy that is hard to believe when discussing common sense.
During the bill signing, Trump also declared that he will issue an executive order to get Guantnamo Bay ready to house the most dangerous illegal aliens who pose a threat to the American people.
A clause in the statute that mandates that someone be imprisoned following a criminal charge rather than a conviction has drawn criticism. Less than a month after Riley’s passing, the law was first approved by House Republicans in March. However, at the time, the Senate was controlled by Democrats.
A version of the bill that included amendments to add assault on a law enforcement officer to the list of offenses that would result in detention, as well as the detention of undocumented migrants charged with crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury, was taken up by the Republican-controlled Senate after the House approved it again earlier this year.
Riley’s murder became a political hot spot throughout the election season, with Republicans pointing the finger at the Biden administration’s immigration policy. Trump brought up Riley’s story often during the campaign.
When a Georgia judge charged 26-year-old Venezuelan immigrant Jose Ibarra with Riley’s murder in November, Trump weighed in and referred to the decision as justice.
The president, who had won the election days before, declared at the moment that the illegal who killed our darling Laken Riley had just been convicted guilty on all counts of his heinous crimes.
On his first day back in the White House, Trump issued a series of executive orders, fulfilling his campaign pledges to target migrants, especially those who have committed crimes in the United States.
One of Trump’s initial actions on immigration was signing the Laken Riley Act. In order to increase the use of active-duty military personnel along the southern border and reallocate resources to assist in the construction of the border wall, his executive orders have halted the admission of refugees, restored a program that matches local law enforcement with immigration agents, and declared a national emergency.
Additionally, he signed an order labeling migration an invasion and attempting to stop the asylum process by deeming migrants a threat to national security and public health.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.