Palmetto State News

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, along with 53 colleagues, has introduced the Laken Riley Act in the Senate. This follows the House of Representatives' approval of companion legislation. The Senate is set to begin debate on this bill on Friday.

Senator Graham emphasized the importance of learning from tragic events like Laken Riley's murder, stating, "We must learn from horrific events like the murder of Laken Riley and take corrective action." He praised Senator Britt for her leadership on this issue and expressed his eagerness to see the bill passed through the Senate.

Senator Katie Britt highlighted that Laken Riley's death was a consequence of current border policies. She stated, "Laken’s murder was the direct consequence of willful open border policies." The act aims to address such issues by closing loopholes in immigration enforcement.

Allyson and John Phillips, Laken Riley's mother and stepfather, voiced their support for the act: "The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of heartbreak we’ve experienced."

The legislation is led by Senator Katie Britt and cosponsored by all members of the Senate Republican conference along with Senator John Fetterman. It seeks to mandate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal aliens who commit certain crimes until they are removed from the United States. Additionally, it provides states with standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who fail to enforce immigration laws.

Graham had previously introduced this bill during the 118th Congress.