Senator Rand Paul excoriates Democrats for obstructing the Laken Riley Act, a bipartisan measure aimed at preventing tragedies like the murder of Laken Riley by illegal immigrants.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has vehemently condemned Democrats for their opposition to the Laken Riley Act, accusing them of valuing money over the lives of American citizens. This bipartisan measure seeks to empower immigration authorities to arrest and detain illegal immigrants engaged in theft or burglary, but it has faced repeated setbacks due to Democratic resistance.
In a scathing letter addressed to Senator Dick Durbin, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 11 Republican senators, including Paul, implored him to immediately consider the bill. They highlighted the staggering number of illegal border encounters during the Biden administration, surpassing the populations of 37 states and exceeding the population of any US city except New York.
"The Laken Riley Act is the bipartisan border bill that should've been on the Senate floor this week," declared Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, a lead sponsor of the measure. "If this legislation had been the law of the land, Laken Riley would still be alive today."
The measure is named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, a college nursing student fatally attacked while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February. Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been charged with her murder.
Prior to the slaying, Ibarra was arrested in New York for endangering a child but was not detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina expressed outrage over this failure, emphasizing that Ibarra was released into the US due to a lack of detention space under the Biden administration's policies.
"In a blatant violation of the parole statute, the man accused of killing Ms. Riley was let into the US by DHS due to a lack of detention space," Graham said. "Then he went on to commit multiple crimes before being indicted for murdering Ms. Riley."
The Laken Riley Act mandates that illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses be arrested and detained until their removal from the United States. It also grants states standing to bring lawsuits against federal officials who refuse or violate immigration law.
Paul and his fellow Republicans argue that this measure is essential to prevent future tragedies resulting from the failure to enforce immigration law. They are urging the Judiciary Committee to consider the bill and hope that it will mark the beginning of meaningful action on border security legislation.
The bill has garnered bipartisan support in the House, passing by a 251-170 vote in March. However, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Democrats have consistently opposed efforts to strengthen border security. Democratic Senator Jon Tester of Montana is the only Democratic co-sponsor of the Senate version of the bill.
Paul's fiery criticism of Democrats' stance on illegal immigration reflects the mounting frustration among Republicans over the perceived lack of action on this issue. They contend that the Biden administration's policies have fueled a surge in illegal border crossings, leading to increased crime rates and straining resources in border communities.
Democrats, on the other hand, have maintained that while border security is important, it must be balanced with humanitarian concerns. They have criticized the Laken Riley Act as overly harsh and potentially discriminatory, arguing that it would unfairly target immigrants who commit minor offenses.
Despite the differing views, both parties are under pressure to address the complex issue of illegal immigration. The Laken Riley Act has become a focal point of the debate, and its fate will likely have significant implications for future immigration policy.
