President Donald Trump signed the “Laken Riley Act” into law on Wednesday in the first major piece of illegal immigration reform since taking office after the issue resounded with voters on the 2024 campaign trail.
The immigration-focused legislation—which was a central campaign promise for Trump and congressional Republicans—mandates the detention of immigrants without legal status, including asylum seekers, if they have been accused of crimes such as theft, burglary, or shoplifting. The bill is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant previously arrested for shoplifting after being paroled into the country.
passed in the House with a vote of 263-156, garnering support from only 46 Democrats. The vote represents a significant change for many within the party, as Democrats had largely opposed the measure at different points last year. However, the political landscape surrounding the bill shifted following the election. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had pledged that the Congress would move quickly on passage of the measure.
highlights a renewed emphasis in Washington on immigration and border security following Trump’s focus on these issues during his successful presidential campaign, NPR reported. The legislation requires federal immigration enforcement to detain and deport individuals without legal status who are charged with minor theft or shoplifting. Rep. Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Iowa, expressed support for the bill in a speech on the floor prior to the vote.
“I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law to let immigrants who break our laws are held accountable for their crimes. This must be done,” Feenstra said. The Senate passed the measure 64-35 earlier this month and also added an amendment that expands the measure to include crimes causing death or serious bodily injury or the assault of a law enforcement officer.
Some criminal offenses can already be grounds for deportation. However, critics of this measure argue that the proposal bypasses the current practice of waiting for a conviction before initiating the removal process. That said, Republicans countered that anyone who crosses illegally into the United States has already committed a crime.
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