EYE-ON-USA: Trump Set to Sign First Law in Office, The Laken Riley Act

By Ed Malik, A | ed@ddnewsonline.com | posted January 24th, 2025

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday gave a final vote approval to a bill that requires the detainment of unauthorized migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, marking the first legislation that President Donald Trump can sign as Congress, with some bipartisan support, swiftly moved in line with his plans to crack down on illegal immigration.

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The bill is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia State nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant who had previously been arrested by local authorities but released as he pursued his immigration case, which added a personal and emotional dimension to the legislative push.

Rep. Mike Coolins, R-Ga, aptly described the bill, “If this act had been the law of the land, he never would have had the opportunity to kill her”.

The passage of the Laken Riley Act signals a significant development in U.S. immigration policy, aligning closely with former President Donald Trump’s stricter stance on immigration. The legislation focuses on the mandatory detention of unauthorized migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, illustrating a shift in Congress’ approach to addressing immigration issues.

Remarkably, the bill received backing from a group of 46 Democrats who are politically vulnerable, emphasizing the bipartisan nature of the support for stricter immigration enforcement measures. Unarguably, immigration policy has often been one of the most entrenched issues in Congress.

Jose Ibarra was found guilty on 10 counts in the death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley.

Not surprising given the effect on the legislators, the bill passed with a significant majority, 263-156, highlighting a growing consensus in Congress, particularly after Trump’s election victory, to prioritize security and address public concerns about crime involving unauthorized migrants.

Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican said, “For decades, it has been almost impossible for our government to agree on solutions for the problems at our border and within our country,” emphasizing that the legislation is “perhaps the most significant immigration enforcement bill” to be passed by Congress in nearly three decades.

For the time being, enforcing the bill would require a humongous array of logistic requirements that will likely test the capacity of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as new funding as yet been approved for its operations.

While there’s still ongoing conversation to finetune the bill, it’s enactment is a clearly strong message that the administration of Donald Trump would take the issues of immigration seriously, both as a campaign policy and also, as a national security challenge.

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The unified of the bill’s passage is a refreshing development that reflects a shift to the right in immigration debates, marking a departure from the often grid-locked discussions on this topic in previous years. The bipartisan support also demonstrates the influence of public safety narratives in shaping policy and the political pressures faced by moderate lawmakers in addressing voter concerns.

NOTE; This story may be updated, as we monitor the development.