House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is warning that more innocent Americans may become victims of violent crime at the hands of illegal immigrants if "Democrats have their way."
Before President Joe Biden delivered the State of the Union address Thursday night, the House passed the Laken Riley Act. The final vote was 251-170. Every Republican voted for it, and 37 Democrats joined them.
The bill requires federal authorities to detain illegal immigrants arrested for or charged with "any burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offense." If the federal government doesn't comply with the detention requirements, the bill empowers states to sue the federal government. Importantly, the legislation also condemns Biden's "open-borders policies" and places responsibility for Riley's death at the president's feet because of his policies.
It's not clear whether such a law would have prevented Riley's death, but the Venezuelan immigrant charged for murdering her, Jose Ibarra, was arrested for shoplifting last year.
