Trump Signs Laken Riley Act to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement
WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law at the White House on Wednesday, marking the first bill he has approved since returning to office.
The law requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain individuals who have been arrested, charged, or convicted of burglary, theft, shoplifting, or larceny.
Before signing the legislation, Trump noted that states have the opportunity under the new law "to sue the federal government for immediate injunctive relief" if future administrations do not enforce the nation's immigration laws.
The law is named to honor 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by illegal alien Tren de Aragua gang member, Jose Antonio Ibarra, on February 22, 2024, in Athens, Georgia.
Trump stated, "From the time she was in first grade, Laken knew she wanted to spend her time caring for others. That's what she did. To her friends and classmates, she was a light of warmth and kindness in every single room. To her parents and family, she was everything in the world. They've had a miserable period of time."
On the day Riley was murdered, she went for a jog on a route she often took without any prior incident. Riley was an avid runner and nursing school student at Augusta University.
Ibarra was convicted of all counts and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Trump highlighted that Ibarra was arrested in New York after being released into the United States. After his release from custody in New York, he received a taxpayer-funded flight to Georgia, where he was arrested for "stealing from a Walmart." According to Trump, federal law enforcement released him again before he murdered Riley.
Riley's family attended the White House signing, where Trump expressed, "To Laken's family, we will keep Laken's memory alive in our hearts, forever-everyone's hearts. With today's action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country, and this is a very important law."
Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, thanked Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) for leading the bill's passage through Congress. She also expressed gratitude to people across the country for their prayers for her family.
"We also want to thank President Trump for the promises he made to us. He said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken, and he hasn't," she stated, fighting back tears. "He's a man of his word. Trust that he will fight for the American people."
"Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, because, without His sacrifices, Laken's story would have ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us, but because of Him, we can continue living knowing that we will see Laken again," she added.
