WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, both R-Wyo., joined U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in introducing the Laken Riley Act.
This bill would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate they are detained until they are removed from the United States.
This legislation would ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
“Joe Biden’s border crisis has allowed nine million illegal immigrants to break our laws and pour across our southern border,” said Senator Barrasso. “The murder of innocent Americans, like Laken Riley, is a direct result of the Democrats’ lawless and dangerous open border policies. Preventable tragedies like this are sadly unfolding all across the country. Our legislation is an important step in ensuring dangerous criminals – like Laken’s murderer – are off the streets and can’t hurt more innocent Americans.”
“Laken Riley’s tragic passing is the unfortunate consequence of this administration’s reckless open border policies and acceptance of sanctuary cities that willfully allow illegal aliens convicted of crimes to reside in our communities,” said Senator Lummis. “The sobering reality is that Laken’s death was preventable, and we must take immediate action to ensure no other American family experiences this tragedy.”
“Make no mistake – Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy,” said Senator Britt. “I am grateful for Representative Collins’ strong leadership and for Senator Budd’s partnership in introducing this Senate companion bill. Senator Schumer should bring this bill to the Senate floor immediately.”
“States should be able to protect their citizens from the Biden administration’s lawless, open border policies by seeking relief in federal court. That’s why I am joining Senator Britt to introduce the Senate version of the Laken Riley Act. We simply cannot tolerate any more senseless tragedies like this one. What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen,” said Senator Budd.
The Laken Riley Act passed the House last week in a bipartisan vote of 251-170. The House companion of this bill was introduced by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.).
Original co-sponsors include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
The full text of the bill can be found here.
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