East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Jim Risch, Mike Crapo, Katie Britt, and Ted Budd have introduced the Laken Riley Act in the 119th Congress. The proposed legislation mandates U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal aliens involved in theft-related crimes until they are deported. It also allows states to take legal action against federal officials who do not enforce immigration laws.

Senator Risch emphasized the importance of this act by stating, “Under the Biden administration, our immigration and criminal justice systems failed to protect American communities, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives.” He believes that the Laken Riley Act is crucial for addressing past issues by removing dangerous individuals and securing borders.

Crapo highlighted the need for stronger policies by saying, "Laken's tragic death could have been prevented with stronger immigration and crime policies." He stressed prioritizing measures to address repeat offenders for citizen safety.

Britt recalled Laken Riley’s murder as a result of open border policies: “Last year, Laken Riley was stolen from this earth—from her family and friends...by a brutal, heartless killer.” She expressed urgency in passing the act to prevent similar tragedies.

Budd remarked on preventing future incidents: “What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen.” He supports empowering authorities under new leadership to enforce laws effectively.

The entire Senate Republican Conference has shown support for this bill. Notable cosponsors include J.D. Vance, John Thune, Eric Schmitt, James Lankford, Kevin Cramer among others. The bipartisan effort aims at reinforcing national security through legislative action.