Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement after 159 House Democrats voted against H.R. 29, The Laken Riley Act.

“Laken Riley was brutally murdered by an illegal alien that President Biden and the Democrats let into this country with their open border policy. It is hard to believe after countless horrific stories like Laken’s, ANY House Democrats would vote against deporting illegal aliens who commit violent crimes against American citizens.    

“But 159 just did, demonstrating some Democrats have ignored the loud and clear message from voters in this election who demanded secure borders, the deportation of violent illegal aliens, and laws that put the safety and security of the American people first.    

“House Republicans heard the voices of those who wanted change and voted to pass the Laken Riley Act. We will always fight to protect Americans, and today’s success is just the beginning of Republican efforts to undo the catastrophic damage caused by years of the Democrats’ failed leadership.”

Background:

The Laken Riley Act requires detention of illegal aliens who commit theft and allows a state to sue the Federal government on behalf of their citizens for not enforcing the border laws, particularly in the case of parole.

The legislation is named for Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an illegal alien on the University of Georgia’s campus on February 22, 2024. The bill directly addresses one of the federal policy failures related to Laken Riley’s murder. Her murderer, Jose Ibarra, is an illegal alien who had been previously cited for shoplifting by the Athens Police Department. If local law enforcement had called ICE, and ICE issued a detainer and picked him up, Laken would be alive. Ibarra was found guilty in November 2024 and has been sentenced to life without parole.

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