WASHINGTON (TND) — A Georgia congressman introduced a bill Friday that aims to honor Laken Riley by requiring that migrants who are in the U.S. illegally be taken into custody if theft occurs.
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., suggested that the U.S. use the Laken Riley Act to remember the 22-year-old nursing student who was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant last month. Under the legislation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be required to arrest all illegal immigrants accused of local theft or burglary.
Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan who entered the United States illegally, was arrested on murder and assault charges in connection with Riley's death. According to Deputy Collins, he was previously charged with shoplifting in Georgia.
“The tragic murder in Laken by an illegal immigrant was another wake-up call,” the congressman wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Americans are experiencing a surge in illegal alien crime because of Joe Biden’s open borders and local sanctuary policies that protect foreign criminals from prosecution and deportation.”
“In addition to the strongest condemnation of the Biden administration's border policies, the bill will also address one of the federal government's failures that led to Laken's murder by expanding the list of crimes for which Immigration and Customs Enforcement must issue a detainer.” said the MP. Collins continued.
Attorneys general could sue the Homeland Security secretary for allowing illegal immigrants to harm citizens and take legal action if the federal government fails to “do its job” and protect Americans from “invaders,” lawmakers said.
READ MORE | Senate candidate says Laken Riley's killing alone shouldn't “determine” immigration policy
“While we can’t bring them back, we must now focus on making sure this doesn’t happen to any other American,” Rep. Collins insisted. “Joe Biden could end all of this now by closing the border and deporting all illegal immigrants under his existing legal authority. He won’t do it, so the legislature must act.”
Police found Riley's body with a disfigured skull in a wooded area on Feb. 22 after she failed to return from a run on the University of Georgia campus. Officials allege Ibarra hit the nursing student with an object and dragged her to a secluded area to hide her body.
“The tragic death of Laken Riley has struck at the hearts of Georgians everywhere and rightly sparked national outrage,” remarked Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. “As I have said many times: Every state is a border state now and today because of Joe Biden’s inaction.” I am once again demanding answers and information from the Biden administration that will help us protect our citizens when the federal government fails to do so does.”
Follow Ray Lewis on X for breaking national news @rayjlewis or send a tip to rjlewis@sgbtv.com.
