Top Points:
Empowering Local Law Enforcement: Georgia Representative Mike Collins emphasized that the Laken Riley Act provides local law enforcement with essential tools to identify, detain, and transfer custody of dangerous illegal immigrants with criminal records, enhancing public safety.
Addressing Federal Inaction: Collins criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies, calling them a “dereliction of duty” that leaves states and localities to manage border security issues, which the Laken Riley Act aims to address.
Focus on Public Safety: By closing legal loopholes and strengthening cooperation between federal and local authorities, the act prioritizes protecting communities from criminal elements while honoring the memory of Laken Riley, a Georgian whose death underscores the consequences of lax immigration enforcement.
Full Report:
On a recent appearance on Newsmax, Georgia Representative Mike Collins emphasized the importance of the Laken Riley Act in empowering local law enforcement to protect American citizens from dangerous illegal immigrants. Named after Laken Riley, a young Georgian whose tragic death underscored the consequences of inadequate immigration enforcement, the act seeks to strengthen cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement. The act passed the U.S. House of Representative on January 7.
“This is one more tool that the local law enforcement can put in their toolbox,” Collins stated. He explained that the legislation aims to close loopholes that allow illegal immigrants with criminal records to slip through the cracks, jeopardizing the safety of law-abiding citizens.
The act proposes to detain illegal immigrants found guilty of theft-related crimes. The week before murdering Riley, Riley's killer and his brother were both cited for shoplifting.
"If the Laken Riley Act had been in place, had been the law of the land before she got murdered, the odds are she'd be alive with us today," said Collins.
Critics of the Biden administration’s immigration policies argue that lax enforcement has fueled a surge of criminal activity tied to illegal immigration. Collins expressed frustration with federal inaction, calling it a “dereliction of duty” that leaves states and localities to shoulder the burden of enforcement.
The Georgia representative commended the grassroots support the Laken Riley Act has garnered, noting that it resonates with Americans who want stronger protections against criminal elements entering the country unlawfully.
The legislation has faced pushback from progressive activists who argue that it could lead to racial profiling and overreach by law enforcement. However, Collins dismissed these concerns as “misguided attempts to distract from the real issue at hand: public safety.”
The act is slated to go to the Senate for a vote later this week.
References
Newsmax, “Mike Collins Discusses the Laken Riley Act and Its Impact on Local Law Enforcement,” January 2025.
U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Collins (GA-10), official statements and press releases.
Department of Homeland Security, data on immigration enforcement trends under the Biden administration.
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