Senator John Cornyn | Official U.S. House headshot
Senator John Cornyn | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Senator John Cornyn and his Republican colleagues have introduced the Laken Riley Act, a legislative proposal aimed at addressing crimes committed by migrants who enter the country illegally. The bill seeks to ensure that individuals who engage in theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until they are removed from the United States.
Cornyn expressed the necessity of the legislation by stating, “The country is still mourning the death of Laken Riley, whose violent murder was a senseless and preventable tragedy. Her loss and that of innocent Texans are a painful reminder that President Biden’s catch-and-release policies have devastating consequences, and this legislation would ensure migrants who enter the country illegally and commit crimes are not able to put American lives at risk.”
The Laken Riley Act has garnered support from a number of Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senators Marsha Blackburn, Tom Cotton, and Lindsey Graham, among others. The bill has also been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Mike Collins.
The tragic incident that inspired the bill occurred on February 22, 2024, when 22-year-old Laken Riley was fatally attacked while jogging on the University of Georgia campus. The suspect, Venezuelan national Jose Antonio Ibarra, had entered the country illegally and was subsequently released by the Biden administration. Following the incident, Senator Cornyn demanded an explanation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding Ibarra's parole.
In addition to addressing crimes committed by illegal migrants, the Laken Riley Act includes provisions that would allow states to take legal action against federal agencies that fail to enforce immigration laws or violate the law.
The introduction of the Laken Riley Act underscores ongoing concerns about the enforcement of immigration policies and the need to prevent crimes committed by individuals who enter the country unlawfully.
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