WASHINGTON – Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (GA-10) mandating ICE to detain illegal migrants charged with theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting according to local jurisdiction. The bill also empowers State Attorneys General to seek injunctive relief against the Secretary of Homeland Security for immigration actions detrimental to their state or citizens.

“Laken Riley should be alive today,” said Rep. Owens. “Her murder is a senseless tragedy that demands action and accountability. Since January 2021, over 9 million illegal migrants have crossed the border, nearly three times the population of Utah. From New York to Denver and now Athens, no city is immune to Biden’s border crisis. I’m proud to support the Laken Riley Act to stem this catastrophe and protect innocent Americans from preventable crimes by requiring ICE to issue detainers and take custody of illegal aliens who are charged with local theft or burglary.” 

The Laken Riley Act: 

• Denounces the open-borders policies of President Biden, “Border Czar” VP Kamala Harris, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas, and other administration officials. 
• Requires ICE to issue detainers and take custody of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting as defined by the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. 
• Allows the Attorney General of a State to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if certain immigration actions (parole, discontinuing visas, violation of the detention requirements, etc.) harm that state or its citizens.

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