U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is renewing calls for Congress to pass the Laken Riley Act as the trial for Laken Riley's accused killer is set to begin.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate twice delayed voting on the Laken Riley Act after it passed the House with a vote of 251-170. The legislation would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens be detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot commit further crimes. It would ensure that States have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the Act.
The bill's name comes from the February abduction and murder of Laken Riley, who was an undergraduate student at the Augusta University nursing school and a former student at the University of Georgia. The suspect in the case is a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, from Venezuela, who police say abducted Riley while she was jogging on the UGA campus. Police previously released Ibarra after charging him with shoplifting.
"As America watches this trial unfold, I am once again calling on Senate Democrats to pass the bipartisan Laken Riley Act," Britt said in a statement. "Laken's death was preventable, but President Biden and Vice President Harris chose mass migration over the safety and security of the American people."
"Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have enabled their dangerous open-border policies and blocked our efforts to pass the Laken Riley Act. There is no responsibility more important than keeping the American people safe, and I remain committed to passing this bill named in Laken's honor to ensure more families are spared this type of unthinkable tragedy."
Alabama's state legislature also failed to pass a bill by the same name during the 2024 legislative session. The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity), seeks to allow law enforcement to partner with federal immigration agencies to enforce federal immigration and customs laws and the detention, removal, and investigation of illegal aliens and the immigration status of any person.
After months of back-and-forth and slowdown in a House subcommittee, the legislation passed the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. Despite clearing the committee, the bill never reached the House floor for a vote.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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