The House of Representatives has passed a GOP-led bill, the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of undocumented migrants charged with certain crimes. The bill, which follows the Senate’s approval earlier in the week, now heads to the White House to be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The bill, named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia student who was killed by an undocumented migrant, mandates the detention of migrants who are in the US unlawfully or without legal status, if they have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or have admitted to certain criminal offenses, including theft, burglary, assault on law enforcement officers, and crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
The bill gained significant support from Democrats, with 46 voting in favor, marking a shift for the party since Trump’s presidential win. However, it is not without controversy, with some Democrats arguing it threatens to undermine civil liberties, due process, and public safety.
The legislation has been criticized for its potential to undermine public safety, as it would allow courts to second-guess decisions made by law enforcement officers, and for its potential to give state attorneys general and federal judges too much power over visa sanctions and deportations.
The Department of Homeland Security has warned that existing resources are insufficient to implement the law, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement estimating it would need an additional 110,000 detention beds to support the new population, exceeding its current inventory.
The Laken Riley Act is one of several immigration measures introduced by the Trump administration, following the President’s executive actions to declare a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and start the process to end birthright citizenship.
