Pulaski Times

U.S. Senator John Boozman, along with Senators Katie Britt, Ted Budd, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have introduced the Laken Riley Act in the 119th Congress. This bipartisan legislation aims to provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and state governments with more tools to combat crime committed by illegal immigrants.

The bill is named after nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by an illegal immigrant on the University of Georgia campus. It mandates ICE to arrest illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and requires their detention until they are removed from the United States.

Additionally, the act would allow states to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or violate it.

Senator Boozman stated that "the Biden administration’s open-border policies have had a devastating impact on too many American families," emphasizing the need for this legislation to safeguard communities.

Senator Britt highlighted that "Laken Riley was stolen from this earth—from her family and friends" due to open border policies. She stressed that passing this legislation is imperative to prevent similar tragedies.

Senate Majority Leader Thune remarked on the urgency of addressing border issues for public safety: "This shouldn’t be a partisan issue – it’s a matter of basic public safety and common sense."

Senator Budd expressed gratitude towards Senator Britt's leadership in this effort: "The Laken Riley Act will empower the Trump administration to enforce our laws."

Laken Riley's mother and stepfather, Allyson and John Phillips, voiced their support for the act: "The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives."

The entire Senate Republican Conference supports the Laken Riley Act alongside Democratic Senators John Fetterman and Ruben Gallego as cosponsors.