The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Laken Riley Act, tightening penalties for undocumented immigrants, marking President Donald Trump’s first legislative achievement just two days after taking office.
On January 22, the House approved the bill with a 263-156 vote, including support from 46 Democrats. The bill had already passed the Senate with a 64-35 majority and will now head to the White House for President Trump’s signature, cementing his first legislative milestone.
The Laken Riley Act allows U.S. authorities to detain undocumented immigrants, including asylum seekers, if they are charged with crimes such as theft or burglary. The bill is named after Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was killed by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant.
"Illegal immigrants who commit crimes must be detained, deported, and never allowed back into our country. The American people deserve safety," House Speaker Mike Johnson said on X (formerly Twitter) after the vote.
Concerns over Immediate Detention
However, the legislation has sparked concerns, as it mandates the immediate detention of undocumented immigrants upon being charged with a crime, rather than after a court conviction.
"Under this bill, someone who has lived in the U.S. for decades—paying taxes and owning a home—could be wrongfully accused of theft, immediately detained, and deported, even if the charges are later dismissed," noted Representative Jamie Raskin, a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Challenges in Implementation
U.S. immigration authorities are expected to face significant resource challenges once the Laken Riley Act takes effect. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has warned that current resources are insufficient to fully enforce the law and estimated an initial implementation cost of $3.2 billion. ICE also projected the need for an additional 110,000 detention beds to accommodate detainees under the new law.
Immigration Crackdown a Top Priority
Addressing illegal immigration has been a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s agenda. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order deploying 1,500 additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of his efforts to curb migration.
On January 20, during his inauguration, Trump declared illegal immigration a national emergency, tasked the military with assisting border security, imposed an asylum ban, and signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship. The latter move has faced legal challenges from dozens of states, alleging it violates the U.S. Constitution.
(Sources: The Hill, CNN)
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