
In a significant legislative move, the U.S. Senate voted on Monday to expand pretrial incarceration for foreign criminal suspects, aligning with the Republican-led Congress’s commitment to enhance immigration enforcement following Donald Trump’s inauguration for a second term.
The newly passed legislation, known as the Laken Riley Act, mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related crimes. The act is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old student tragically murdered by a Venezuelan man with no legal status who was wanted for shoplifting.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has raised concerns, warning that the legislation could result in individuals being jailed “potentially for years” for nonviolent offenses.
The Senate approved the act by a decisive 64-35 vote, following its prior passage in the House of Representatives. This legislative push highlights the Republican emphasis on what they characterize as inadequate border security policies under former President Joe Biden, who left office just hours before the vote.
Additionally, the newly-inaugurated Senate, which shifted to Republican control after the November elections, included an amendment to expand mandatory detention to encompass “crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury.”
The passage of the Laken Riley Act marks a pivotal step in the ongoing debate over immigration policy and border security in the United States.