The Laken Riley Act has gained significant momentum in Congress, with Wyoming’s entire delegation supporting the bill in response to the tragic murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley.
The legislation seeks to make it easier for authorities to deport illegal immigrants arrested for crimes like burglary and theft. It recently advanced in the Senate, following a House vote earlier in the week.
The bill has sparked a partisan divide, with Republicans strongly backing it, blaming the Biden administration’s immigration policies for Riley’s death. Sen. John Barrasso and Sen. Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming have both supported the legislation, arguing that the failure to enforce immigration laws directly contributed to Riley’s tragic death at the hands of Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant with prior arrests.
Critics, primarily from the Democratic Party, have voiced concerns over the bill’s broad scope and potential overreach, while proponents argue it is necessary to hold illegal immigrants accountable for crimes committed in the U.S.
The bill’s passage would authorize states to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement failures, among other provisions.
Despite the significant support, there remains a need for bipartisan cooperation to ensure the bill’s success in the Senate. The next steps include further votes, with potential amendments, though Barrasso has warned against weakening the measure.