26-State Coalition Urges Senate to Pass Laken Riley Act in Response to Border Crisis

Attorney General Chris Carr is leading a coalition of 26 states urging the U.S. Senate to swiftly pass the Laken Riley Act. The bill, H.R. 7511, aims to mandate the detention of any illegal alien involved in larceny, burglary, theft, or shoplifting offenses. Carr emphasized the necessity of the legislation in preventing similar tragedies in the future, citing failures at multiple levels of governance in the case of Laken Riley.

The Act garnered bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, passing with a vote of 251-170. In a letter dated March 13, 2024, the attorneys general criticized President Biden’s handling of immigration, attributing the current border crisis to what they perceive as negligence and abandonment of effective policies.

They commended the bill’s provisions empowering State Attorneys General for enforcement and highlighted its potential as a tool to combat illegal immigration and enhance the safety of American communities. The letter implored the Senate to expedite the bill to a vote, invoking the memory of Laken Riley as a motivation to prevent further loss of life.

A total of 26 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia, joined in the call to action, along with Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, which co-led the initiative.

A copy of the letter can be found here.