All members of Alabama’s delegation, including Democratic Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and Shomari Figures (D-Mobile), joined their Republican colleagues to vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act. The bill, which intends to crack down on immigration enforcement and prevent tragedies like the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, passed the House with strong support.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt named the bill after Laken Riley, who was tragically murdered in Georgia by a convicted felon residing in the U.S. illegally.
Britt’s bill would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes.
RELATED: Democrats continue blocking Laken Riley Act – Britt intends to ‘avoid future tragedies’
“Last year, Laken Riley was stolen from this earth—from her family and friends and from achieving her dreams—by a brutal, heartless killer. Make no mistake—he never should have been in the United States, much less allowed to freely roam American streets after being charged with multiple crimes. Laken’s murder was the direct consequence of willful open border policies,” Sen. Britt (R-Montgomery) said on Tuesday.
“The American people did not just deliver a mandate on November 5th, they delivered a verdict. They made it clear they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families. We will soon know whether Democrats hear, respect, and obey that verdict. Congress has an obligation to Laken, her family, and to families in every corner of our country to do everything in our power to help prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again. That’s why it’s imperative we pass the commonsense Laken Riley Act with all due haste. No other American family needs to feel the pain Laken’s family still feels 320 days after losing her,” continued Senator Britt.
Supporters, including U.S. Senators John Thune and Ted Budd, Georgia Congressman Mike Collins, and the totality of the Alabama delegation, voted to address gaps in the system that allowed Riley’s killer, Jose Ibarra, to remain in the U.S. despite his criminal record. Ibarra was convicted of multiple charges, including felony murder, and sentenced to life without parole in November.
Allyson and John Phillips, Riley’s mother and stepfather, issued their heartfelt support for the legislation – saying it has the potential to save lives.
“Laken’s life was full of promise, and her legacy can live on through this bill,” they said in a statement.
“The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of heartbreak we’ve experienced. Laken would have been 23 on January 10th. There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill. Every single member of Congress should be able to get behind this purely commonsense bill that will make our country and communities safer. We thank Congressman Mike Collins, Senator Katie Britt, and Senator Ted Budd for continuing to work to honor Laken’s legacy and get this legislation enacted into law.”
According to Alabama Daily News D.C. correspondent Alex Angle, the newly sworn-in Congressman Figures said Britt’s bill was a step in the right direction.
In November, the trial of Jose Ibarra, Riley’s murderer, concluded with a guilty verdict on all counts, including malice murder and aggravated assault with intent to rape. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“Alabama’s entire House delegation voted for the Laken Riley Act,” Britt said Tuesday. “This bill shouldn’t just get 60+ votes in the Senate, it should get 90+.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
