The United States House of Representatives on Thursday, March 7th, passed a law targeted at tightening immigration enforcement measures, particularly focusing on migrants who have committed property crimes such as burglary or theft, after the death of Laken Riley at the hands of an illegal migrant.
The law, titled the “Laken Riley Act,” passed with bipartisan support, securing a 251-170 vote.
This move comes in the wake of the death of a Georgia nursing student, Laken Riley, allegedly at the hands of an undocumented migrant.
Riley, 22, was fatally attacked on February 22nd while running in a wooded area near the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Georgia.
Authorities charged Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen who reportedly entered the country unlawfully, with the murder of Riley.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement, Ibarra illegally entered the country in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, from Mexico and was subsequently released for further processing following detention.
Later, Ibarra was arrested in Georgia after receiving citations for shoplifting and failing to appear for his court date.
The legislation represents the latest effort by Republican lawmakers to draw attention to the situation at the southern border, which has emerged as a key issue in the 2024 campaign cycle and a top vulnerability for President Joe Biden heading into the general election.
The Laken Riley Act would mandate the federal government to detain foreign nationals who commit “burglary, theft, larceny, or [a] shoplifting offense” and also empower states to sue the federal government for non-enforcement of specific aspects of immigration law.
Amidst the legislative proceedings, Republican leaders have utilized Riley’s death to criticize the Biden administration’s approach to immigration, suggesting that policies have led to increased victimization of Americans by illegal migrants.
Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the broader impact of such policies, stating, “Innocent Americans from Laken Riley in Georgia to the 14-year-old rape victim of an illegal immigrant in our home state of Louisiana. They’ve all been victimized by those whom the Biden administration has released into our country. He is releasing them into your state.”
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Representative Mike Collins, noted, “It should pass the Senate. That doesn’t mean it will or it would, but it should. This is common sense legislation. This is good legislation, and this can help our local law enforcement so I would hope that the Senate would look at it from that standpoint.”
However, this narrative faces opposition from Democratic lawmakers, who accuse their Republican counterparts of exploiting Riley’s tragedy for political gains.
Democratic Representative Jerry Nadler stated, “Unfortunately, instead of coming together to express our sorrow for Laken’s tragic loss, the majority appears to be exploiting her death for yet another partisan, political stunt.”
