President Donald Trump signs the Laken Riley Act at a ceremony in the White House's East Room on January 29, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo
President Donald Trump signed his first bill into law on Wednesday, a piece of legislation named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student whose tragic death became a rallying cry during Trump’s presidential campaign. The bill, known as the Laken Riley Act, will require the detention of unauthorized immigrants who are accused of violent crimes or theft.
Trump expressed gratitude for the bipartisan support behind this law, which passed in both the House and Senate. Notably, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., attended the signing ceremony at the White House.
Laken Riley, just 22 years old, was a nursing student at Augusta University. She was killed in February 2024 by Jose Antonio Ibarra, who had been previously arrested for illegal entry into the U.S. in 2022. He had been released while awaiting his immigration hearing but later murdered Riley during a confrontation. Ibarra was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole. Trump and other Republicans pointed to the case as an example of why stronger immigration laws are necessary. They argued that if the Laken Riley Act had been in place, Ibarra would not have had the chance to kill Riley.
The Laken Riley Act requires federal authorities to detain immigrants charged with certain crimes, including assault or theft, while their immigration status is investigated. According to Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., one of the bill’s supporters, if someone enters the country illegally and commits a crime, they should not be allowed to remain free.
In addition to its focus on crime-related detentions, the bill gives state attorneys general the power to sue the federal government for failing to properly enforce immigration policies, such as releasing individuals who have been ordered for deportation.
The bill has drawn sharp reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. While it passed with support from 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats, many others in the party have raised concerns about the potential impact on immigrants' rights. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., argued that the bill undermines civil rights and could lead to the unjust detention and deportation of individuals who have merely been accused of a crime.
Critics also point to the lack of funding in the bill, which they argue will place undue pressure on federal authorities. The bill could cost an estimated $83 billion over the next three years, according to Democrats on the Appropriations Committee.
However, some Democrats in battleground states supported the bill, citing their constituents' concerns over border security and criminal deportations. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Mark Warner, D-Va., all voted in favor of the bill, despite its contentious nature.
Sen. Fetterman, who broke from his party on this issue, stated that he supported the bill in the interest of securing the nation’s borders. His stance echoed that of other Democrats from states with a focus on tough immigration laws.
The Laken Riley Act has sparked debate over how to balance national security with civil rights, and whether the bill will truly address the underlying issues of immigration enforcement. As the first law signed by Trump, it sets the stage for what could be a divisive period of legislative action regarding immigration.
