Federal lawmakers and state officials called Wednesday for Congress to approve the Laken Riley Act which would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, joined a group of 31 of her Senate Republican colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Katie Britt, R-Ala. and Ted Budd, R-N.C., in introducing the Laken Riley Act on Wednesday.
The Laken Riley Act was named for a nursing student in Georgia who was brutally murdered in February 2024 on the campus of the University of Georgia. Laken Riley’s accused killer was identified as an illegal immigrant who entered the country through the southern border and was not detained or deported despite a previous arrest.
“Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities, but President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ refusal to address the crisis at the southern border has repeatedly caused devastating acts of violence to occur across the country,” Capito said. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Laken Riley Act, and I encourage Leader Schumer to bring this bill to the floor immediately so we can help prevent further tragedies such as this one.”
In addition to the new ICE arrest requirements, the Laken Riley Act also mandates that illegal aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes, according to a statement from Capito. Additionally, this legislation would ensure that states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
The legislation was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.-10, where it passed last week in a bipartisan, 251-170 vote.
On Wednesday, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares joined a 26-state coalition calling on the United States Senate to quickly pass the Laken Riley Act.
“The Laken Riley Act is so common sense that it stuns me that this isn’t everyday practice,” Miyares said. “Individuals who are here illegally and breaking our laws, endangering the safety of American citizens, should not be given additional chances. Laken Riley deserved better, and it’s up to us to ensure this sort of tragedy never happens again.”
“It’s clear President Biden’s repeated actions of ignoring the rule of law and abandoning successful policies have created a border crisis of historic proportions,” according to the coalition’s letter. “As attorneys general, we are fighting to preserve the rule of law and keep our states safe when the federal government fails to act, or in the case of illegal immigration, actively makes it worse. To that end, we applaud the bill’s enforcement provision for State Attorneys General.”
We believe the Laken Riley Act is a strong bill that can act as another arrow in the quiver when it comes to combating illegal immigration and protecting Americans. Please advance this bill to a vote as soon as possible. Laken Riley should still be alive. Let her memory be used to protect others before it’s too late.”
Virginia joined Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia in the South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. co-led letter.