Cedar Rapids Today

Today, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson expressed her support for the recently passed Laken Riley Act. The House of Representatives approved the legislation with a vote of 264-159. This act aims to provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and state governments with tools and resources to protect citizens from criminal activities committed by illegal immigrants.

"Laken Riley – a young woman with her whole life ahead of her – was murdered by an illegal immigrant President Biden let into our country through his open border policies," stated Congresswoman Hinson. "I proudly cosponsored and voted for the Laken Riley Act to ensure no other family endures what Laken’s family has gone through. It’s far past time to secure our border, deport criminal aliens, and make America safe again. That starts with the passage of the Laken Riley Act.”

The act is named in memory of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed on February 22, 2024, at the University of Georgia campus by an illegal immigrant.

The Laken Riley Act focuses on two primary areas: amending federal law to mandate ICE to issue detainers and take custody of illegal immigrants involved in theft-related crimes; and empowering state attorneys general to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if immigration actions or policy failures negatively impact their state or its citizens.