Senators Scott, Britt, Budd Introduce Laken Riley Act, Call for Immediate Action to Save American Lives

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in introducing the Laken Riley Act to ensure that America’s streets are safe from illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. This legislation requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses. The bill also mandates that illegal immigrants who have committed a crime are detained until removal from the U.S. so they cannot re-offend or commit further crimes, and it ensures states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.

“Laken Riley’s murder – by an illegal immigrant who was twice arrested and twice released onto our streets – is the result of an absolute failure by the Biden administration,” said Senator Scott. “President Biden’s refusal to protect the homeland by allowing illegal immigrants who commit crimes to roam free on our streets has led to the death of more than one American. The solution is simple: secure our border and quit letting in criminals and murderers. If our commander-in-chief can’t get that done, the American people deserve someone who will.” 

Original co-sponsors of the legislation include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

This bill serves as the Senate companion to Representative Mike Collins’ (R-Ga.-10) original legislation introduced in the House of Representatives, which passed the House last week in a bipartisan vote of 251-170. The Senate cosponsors are urging Senator Schumer to bring the Laken Riley Act to the Senate floor for a vote immediately.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

BACKGROUND 

The Laken Riley Act is named after a 22-year-old college student who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant while she was jogging on the UGA campus. The killer—Jose Ibarra—had been arrested twice before but released before a detainer could be issued.

This legislation addresses disastrous illegal immigration policies that fueled Laken Riley’s murder and the following incidents:

• On February 26, 2024, Nilson Granados-Trejo was charged with first and second-degree murder of a 2 year-old in Prince George’s County. Twice, Granados-Trejo was arrested, and ICE issued a detainer, which was not honored by Montgomery County.
• On February 14, 2024, Stephen Claude Rattigan shot three DC police officerswho were serving a warrant for animal cruelty. He had been previously deported and returned to the country illegally.
• On February 8, 2024, Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figeuroa shot at NYPD officers, shot at a security guard, and shot a tourist. He is also a suspect in a previous gunpoint robbery.