WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement after voting to pass the Laken Riley Act, legislation he cosponsored. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 64-35.
“The preventable tragedy and murder of Laken Riley lies at the hands of the Biden administration which turned a blind eye to illegal immigrants committing crimes,” said Dr. Cassidy. “With President Trump, we can secure our southern border and lock up illegal immigrants who commit crimes.”
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 would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes. Additionally, this legislation would ensure that States have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
Background
Cassidy introduced the Laken Riley Act last Congress as well and called for its immediate consideration.
The entire Senate Republican Conference cosponsored the Laken Riley Act for the 119th Congress, including U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Boozman (R-MT), John Kennedy (R-LA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Jim Banks (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Tim Scott (R-SC), Todd Young (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Curtis (R-UT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Rounds (R-ND), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Rand Paul (R-KY), and John Fetterman (D-PA).
