Rep. Baumgartner Statement on President Trump Signing the Laken Riley Act Into Law

WASHINGTON– Rep. Michael Baumgartner (WA-5) released the following statement on the Laken Riley Act being signed into law.

“Today, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, a significant step toward commonsense immigration reform and securing our borders,” said Rep. Baumgarter. “I've always been an advocate for such reforms, and I'm proud to have supported this legislation. This law will help protect all Americans and prevent future tragedies like Laken Riley’s.”

Background

The Laken Riley Act requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens charged with theft offenses and detain them until removal to prevent reoffending. The bill specifically targets individuals charged, convicted, or arrested for theft-related crimes such as burglary, larceny, and shoplifting. This legislation was introduced in response to the tragic case of Laken Riley, who was killed by an illegal alien released after being arrested for theft. In this case, local authorities failed to detain the individual, and ICE did not issue a detainer, allowing the tragedy to occur.

The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives on January 7, 2025, and the Senate on January 23, 2025, receiving overwhelming bipartisan support. The law will ensure greater accountability in immigration enforcement and protect communities across the country from preventable crimes.