Press Releases

Washington, DC—January 22, 2025…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted for S.5, the Laken Riley Act, which protects American communities from criminal illegal aliens by requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to issue detainers and take custody of aliens who commit theft offenses, assault of a law enforcement officer, and crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury to another individual. Additionally, it ensures states can hold future administrations accountable for radical, far-Left immigration enforcement and open-borders policies.

Congressman Womack said, “Laken Riley was a college student with a bright, promising future. Her life was cut short, murdered by an illegal alien who took advantage of the Biden Administration’s open border. This was not an isolated incident. With President Trump’s signature on the House and Senate-approved measure, illegal aliens who’ve committed a theft offense, a crime resulting in death or injury, or an assault of a law enforcement officer will be kept off our streets and out of our communities. Americans should be protected. No family should have to experience a senseless tragedy at the hands of the previous Administration’s failures.”

Details:

• In February 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was murdered by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant released into the United States by the Biden Administration, a flagrant violation of the parole and detention requirements in federal immigration law.
• Months before murdering Riley, Ibarra was arrested for theft. However, local authorities in Georgia released him, and ICE did not lodge a detainer.
• Through a detainer, ICE requests cooperation from local law enforcement to ensure that ICE can take custody of the alien when released by local authorities.

• The Laken Riley Act passed the House on January 7, 2025. The Senate amended the bill to add two classes of crimes that require the issuance of an ICE detainer to the theft offenses contained in the underlying bill:
• Crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury to another individual; and
• Assault of a law enforcement officer.

• The Senate passed the updated bill on January 20, 2025, and the House passed it today. The legislation now is sent to President Trump’s desk for approval.
• Congressman Womack supported the measure every time it was voted on in the House.