LaLota Supports Passage of the Laken Riley Act to Bolster Public Safety and Immigration Enforcement
WASHINGTON D.C. - Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act, which increases the federal government’s accountability for public safety and extends the Department of Homeland Security’s power to detain undocumented immigrants suspected of criminal offenses.
"Laken Riley’s tragic and preventable murder is a stark reminder of the urgent need to enforce our immigration laws," said LaLota. "The Laken Riley Act ensures that individuals who are in the country illegally and commit crimes like theft or burglary are detained and removed, preventing them from re-offending and endangering others. By holding federal officials accountable for enforcing the law, this legislation places the safety of American families and communities first. I was proud to join my colleagues in passing this vital bill to honor Laken’s memory and help prevent future tragedies."
To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.
Background:
In 2024, LaLota joined his colleagues to pass the Laken Riley Act in a vote of 251-170.
The Laken Riley Act would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and mandate that they be detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot re-offend and commit further crimes. Additionally, this legislation would ensure that states have the standing to bring civil action against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
On February 22, 2024, while jogging on the University of Georgia campus, 22-year-old Laken Riley was tragically murdered. Her body was discovered in a wooded area near Lake Herrick in Oconee Forest Park, with the cause of death determined to be blunt force trauma and asphyxiation. The perpetrator, José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan man who had entered the United States illegally in 2022, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including felony murder, malice murder, and aggravated assault with intent to rape. In November 2024, Ibarra was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.