Rep. Mike Collins, US Representative for Georgia's 10th District | Official website
Rep. Mike Collins, US Representative for Georgia's 10th District | Official website
Today, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law. This marks the first bill signed by Donald Trump during his presidency. The act is named after Laken Riley, a nursing student who was killed on the University of Georgia’s campus by an illegal alien in February 2024.
Rep. Mike Collins stated, “Nearly one year ago, Laken Riley’s life was taken by a career criminal illegal alien. Today, with the full support of President Trump, a bicameral group of Republicans and Democrats, and the American people, we were finally able to bring justice to the Riley family and ensure that this can never happen again.” He added gratitude towards President Trump for making it his first law and emphasized their commitment to addressing immigration system issues.
The legislation mandates U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and repatriate illegal aliens committing certain crimes including theft and assault against police officers. It also permits states to sue the Department of Homeland Security if immigration actions harm them or their citizens.
Rep. Mike Collins further noted, “Nothing meaningful happens in Washington, D.C., unless the people demand it,” expressing appreciation for citizen involvement in pushing for this legislation.
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns remarked on the occasion: “I’m honored to be with President Trump, Congressman Mike Collins, members of our Congressional Delegation, and members of the Georgia House to celebrate the signing of the Laken Riley Act.” He acknowledged public demand for action on illegal immigration and praised Trump's administration's efforts.
The bipartisan bill passed both houses with significant support from both parties: 263-156 in the House and 64-35 in the Senate.
Background information reveals that Jose Ibarra was responsible for Riley's murder. He had prior offenses but was not detained due to policy failures. Ibarra has been sentenced to life without parole as of November 2024.
The signing event included attendance from Laken Riley’s family who supported this legislative move.
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