President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday, making it the first piece of legislation enacted during his second administration.
The law mandates Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants arrested or charged with theft-related crimes or assaulting a police officer. It also grants states the ability to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for harm caused by illegal immigration.
Named in honor of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student murdered while jogging at the University of Georgia, the law addresses failures in immigration enforcement. Riley’s killer, Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant with prior arrests, had not been detained by ICE. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her murder.
The measure passed with bipartisan support, receiving votes from all House Republicans and 48 Democrats, as well as all Senate Republicans and 12 Senate Democrats.
While supporters say the law enhances public safety and strengthens immigration enforcement, critics argue it expands mandatory detention for minor offenses, such as shoplifting.
Sarah Mehta, senior border policy counsel with the ACLU, called it “an extreme and reactive bill that will authorize the largest expansion of mandatory detention we have seen in decades.”
President Trump campaigned on tougher immigration policies and declared a national emergency at the southern border immediately after taking office. He also ordered the expulsion of migrants without the possibility of asylum.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a warning to foreign nationals attempting to enter the U.S. illegally, stating they will be detained and deported.
