What is Laken-Riley’s Law?

NEW YORK – He handed over the house on Wednesday Laken Riley’s lawthe immigrant detention bill, which requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.

The bill is based on 2024 murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student who was killed by an illegal immigrant.

This is President Donald Trump’s first piece of legislation passed by Congress and the beginning of his work mass deportation plan.

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Sen. Kathy Britt, R-Alabama, called the legislation “perhaps the most significant immigration control bill” passed by Congress in nearly three decades.

It is also worth noting that according to a recent survey of Associated Press-NORC Public Affairs Research Center.

Republican leaders in Congress have made it clear they intend to follow suit, though their toughest challenge will be finding a way to approve the funding to actually implement Trump’s plans.

How Much Will Laken Riley’s Law Cost?

The Department of Homeland Security estimated that implementing the Laken Riley Act would cost $26.9 billion in the first year, including an increase of 110,000 ICE beds.

Cuccinelli said that would require a dramatic increase in immigration judges, prosecutors and other personnel, but Trump also paved the way for using military troops, bases and other resources to carry out mass deportations.

According to Ken Cuccinelli, who ran U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during Trump’s first presidency, they have already estimated the cost of funding Trump’s border and deportation priorities at about $100 billion.

Republicans are now strategizing how to push their priorities through Congress.

What’s next:

According to the new legislation:

• Federal authorities are required to detain any migrant arrested or charged with crimes such as shoplifting.
• The Senate wants to include those accused of assaulting a police officer or crimes that resulted in injury or death.
• State attorneys general can sue the federal government for damages caused by federal immigration decisions.
• States have the right to set their own immigration policies.

Who was Laken Riley?

Prehistory:

Laken Riley, a 22-year-old student at Augusta University’s College of Nursing, was out for a morning jog on campus when she was found dead last February.

Riley’s roommate reported that she had not returned from a run before authorities found her body in the woods.

Prosecutors said Jose Ybarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who immigration authorities say crossed into the United States illegally in 2022, met Riley as she was jogging on February 22, 2024, and killed her in a struggle.

Dig deeper:

Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without parole in a case that became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration.

Defense attorney Caitlin Beck told the judge that the evidence was circumstantial and did not conclusively prove Ibarra’s guilt.

The judge found Ibarra guilty of all 10 counts against him: one count of first degree murder; three counts of aggravated murder; and one count each of kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing an emergency call, tampering with evidence and peeping Tom.

ICE makes more than 300 arrests

By the numbers:

The Trump administration has already stepped up immigration enforcement, with ICE focusing on arresting individuals deemed a threat to public or national security.

Border Czar Tom Homan said deportation efforts have already begun, and ICE recently arrested 308 people with criminal records.

“Right now, as we’ve said repeatedly and President Trump has made clear, we’re focusing on the worst, first and foremost,” Hohman said.

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