Benton Times

Congressman Steve Womack has expressed his support for the Laken Riley Act, a legislative measure aimed at enhancing community safety by mandating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to issue detainers for certain criminal offenses committed by illegal aliens. The bill, known as S.5, seeks to address crimes such as theft, assault on law enforcement officers, and offenses resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

"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," stated Congressman Womack. He emphasized that this legislation is intended to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

The act is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed in February 2024 by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant released into the United States under the Biden Administration's policies. Prior to the murder, Ibarra had been arrested for theft but was released without ICE lodging a detainer.

The House initially passed the Laken Riley Act on January 7, 2025. The Senate later amended it to include additional categories of crimes requiring ICE detainers: those resulting in death or serious bodily injury and assaults on law enforcement officers. The Senate approved these amendments on January 20, 2025.

With both chambers of Congress having passed the updated bill, it now awaits President Trump's signature for enactment. Congressman Womack has consistently supported this measure throughout its legislative journey.