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President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday, expanding federal immigration enforcement powers and requiring the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants charged with certain crimes. The measure, which gained bipartisan support, marks the first legislation enacted under Trump’s second term and underscores his administration’s focus on stricter immigration policies.
Law Targets Criminal Offenses by Undocumented Immigrants
The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of undocumented individuals charged with crimes such as shoplifting, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or offenses resulting in serious injury or death. Under previous law, many of these offenses could already lead to deportation, but critics say the new measure removes discretion and could result in deportations before due process is completed.
The bill is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was killed in 2024. The suspect, Venezuelan national José Ibarra, was in the U.S. without legal status and had prior arrests. Riley’s family attended the signing, with her mother, Allyson Phillips, thanking lawmakers for passing the bill in her daughter’s name.
Bipartisan Support and Democratic Divide
While most Democrats opposed the bill, 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it. Among them was Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who has pushed for tougher border enforcement and was the first Senate Democrat to meet with Trump after the election.
“Anyone who commits a crime should be held accountable. That’s why I voted to pass the Laken Riley Act,” said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), one of the Democrats who backed the measure.
Opponents argue that the bill undermines due process by allowing authorities to detain and deport individuals based on charges rather than convictions. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) criticized the legislation, calling it a “fundamental erosion of civil rights.”
“In this bill, if someone is merely accused of a crime—shoplifting, for example—they could be detained and deported without a fair trial,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Implementation Challenges for ICE
The measure adds new responsibilities to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has already warned of budget constraints. An agency memo sent to lawmakers earlier this month stated that full implementation of the law is “impossible to execute with existing resources” and estimated a $26 billion cost in the first year alone.
Projected ICE Budget Shortfall for Laken Riley Act Implementation
(Estimated Costs in First Year, in Billions of USD)
| Category | Estimated Cost ($B) |
|---|---|
| Increased personnel | 8.5 |
| Expanded detention facilities | 12.0 |
| Transportation & logistics | 5.5 |
ICE also expressed concerns about cooperation from local jurisdictions, particularly sanctuary cities such as New York and Los Angeles, which have policies limiting their involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
Impact on Undocumented Communities
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S., with 77% residing in the country for more than five years. Many activists fear the law could lead to mass deportations that separate families and disrupt communities.
Supporters of the legislation argue that it is necessary to ensure public safety. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a key sponsor of the bill, said, “If you come into this country illegally and commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this nation.”
What Comes Next?
Trump has indicated that this is just the beginning of his administration’s renewed immigration crackdown. He has also suggested signing an executive order expanding deportations and revisiting birthright citizenship policies. Meanwhile, legal challenges could delay full implementation, with immigrant rights groups signaling potential lawsuits.
The Laken Riley Act is likely to fuel ongoing debates over immigration policy, public safety, and due process as the nation heads into the next election cycle.
