President Donald Trump has simply handed his first immigration invoice. The invoice, known as the Laken Riley Act, handed the Home with a 263-156 vote, garnering assist from 46 Democrats. This vote marked a major shift throughout the social gathering, as Democrats had largely opposed the measure all through a lot of final 12 months.
JUST IN: The Home handed an amended model of the Laken Riley Act on a vote of 263-156, teeing up main immigration reform initially of Pres. Trump’s second administration.
Forty-six Democrats joined Republicans in voting in favor of the invoice. https://t.co/q95j1buhJg pic.twitter.com/4U4s0Wi10l
— ABC Information Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 22, 2025
Be taught extra beneath.
Who Was Laken Riley?
The act is known as after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing scholar who was tragically murdered final 12 months by a Venezuelan man. Laken was attending Augusta College’s School of Nursing on the time.
The Venezuelan man, recognized as Jose Ibarra, was convicted in November 2024 of homicide, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and a number of other different crimes. He was sentenced to life in jail with out the potential for parole.
What Is the Laken Riley Act?
The Laken Riley Act is a invoice that mandates the detention and deportation of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft or violent crimes. Underneath the invoice, the Division of Homeland Safety could be answerable for detaining people with out authorized standing who’re charged with sure offenses.
Whereas a number of felony offenses already function grounds for deportation, critics argue that the invoice bypasses the present follow of ready for a conviction earlier than initiating the removing course of.
On January 29, 2025, the invoice was formally signed into regulation by Trump, however even the federal businesses answerable for imposing it have expressed issues. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), one of many major businesses answerable for dealing with deportations, has identified a number of challenges in implementing the regulation, together with the necessity for added officers and the shortage of ample detention house for offenders. Earlier this month, ICE despatched a memo to lawmakers warning that the invoice could be “unattainable to execute with current assets” and estimated that its implementation may price round $26 billion.
What Main Govt Orders Has Trump Signed So Far?
President Trump wasted no time pursuing his objectives upon returning to the White Home, signing a document 26 government orders on Inauguration Day.
Many of those targeted on reversing actions taken by the Biden administration, together with rescinding 78 government orders. Key areas of focus included immigration—similar to declaring a “nationwide emergency” on the U.S.-Mexico border and ending birthright citizenship—in addition to adjustments to LGBTQ+ protections, the federal workforce, and extra.
Trump additionally signed an order withdrawing the U.S., the world’s second-largest greenhouse fuel emitter, from the Paris Local weather Settlement.