Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law Wednesday, the first piece of legislation he has signed since being sworn in as the 47th president. The law directs U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and detain illegal aliens charged with theft, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or other crimes causing death or serious bodily injury.
The bill is named after Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal alien from Venezuela, in February 2024. Ibarra had been arrested the year prior on other unrelated charges but was released and never deported.
“I met the parents of Laken, and they were incredible people,” Trump said Monday night during a speech to GOP House members. “They were just so devastated—I can’t even explain to you. You can’t say somebody’s life is over, but essentially, their…
