Coalition of States Urges Senate to Pass Laken Riley Act to Tighten Immigration Laws

In a move that underscores the growing concern over immigration policies and public safety, Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia has teamed up with a 26-state coalition, pressing the United States Senate to swiftly pass the Laken Riley Act, a piece of legislation aimed at enforcing stricter rules on illegal immigration.

The Laken Riley Act, also known as H.R. 7511, mandates the immediate detention of any undocumented immigrant who commits offenses such as larceny, burglary, theft, or shoplifting. This bill, which garnered a bipartisan nod with a 251-170 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, has sparked a heated debate, particularly as every Democrat from Virginia opposed it.

Attorney General Miyares did not mince words when discussing the necessity of the act, highlighting the tragic case that spurred the bill’s creation. “The Laken Riley Act is so common sense that it stuns me that this isn’t everyday practice,” Miyares stated. “Individuals who are here illegally and breaking our laws, endangering the safety of American citizens, should not be given additional chances. Laken Riley deserved better, and it’s up to us to ensure this sort of tragedy never happens again.”

The push for the Laken Riley Act comes against the backdrop of what the coalition describes as a “border crisis of historic proportions,” attributing this to what they see as the current administration’s negligence towards the rule of law and failure to continue effective immigration policies. The letter sent to the Senate emphasizes the role of the bill in bolstering states’ abilities to maintain safety, given the perceived shortcomings at the federal level.

“We are fighting to preserve the rule of law and keep our states safe when the federal government fails to act or, in the case of illegal immigration, actively makes it worse,” the letter explains, underscoring the collective desire of the states to have more tools at their disposal to combat illegal immigration effectively.

The bill not only seeks to enforce stricter immigration controls but also serves as a memorial to Laken Riley, whose untimely death has become a rallying cry for those advocating for more stringent immigration enforcement measures. “Laken Riley should still be alive. Let her memory be used to protect others before it’s too late,” the letter passionately concludes.

States, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia in the South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida have shown a united front in this initiative, signaling a significant push toward reshaping immigration policy at the national level.

See the letter here.