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House Passes Laken Riley Bill

House Passes Laken Riley Bill

Once again, the House of Representatives has passed the Laken Riley Act, and once again, we’re reminded of just how tone-deaf some members of Congress remain when it comes to protecting American citizens. Forty-eight Democrats crossed the aisle to vote alongside Republicans, but let’s not forget—159 Democrats still voted against it. That’s 159 elected officials who looked at the brutal murder of a young nursing student and decided, “No, securing our borders and enforcing immigration laws isn’t worth it.”

The bill isn’t complicated, folks. It mandates that illegal immigrants charged with theft-related crimes be detained by federal authorities. That’s it. We’re not talking about jaywalking or expired parking meters—we’re talking about individuals who have already demonstrated a willingness to break laws in our country. And yet, Rep. Pramila Jayapal had the audacity to claim this bill would “unfairly sweep up many more innocent lives with no due process.” Due process? These individuals are already charged with crimes!

Here’s the cold, hard truth: Laken Riley should still be alive today. Jose Ibarra, her murderer, was a known illegal immigrant who had already been cited for shoplifting. ICE could have intervened. Local authorities could have alerted immigration officials. But in this era of sanctuary policies and bureaucratic hand-wringing, nothing happened. And now, a family is left grieving because our system failed—because politicians put ideology above public safety.

Speaker Mike Johnson nailed it when he said some Democrats are “ignoring” voters who are demanding secure borders. The American people aren’t asking for miracles—they’re asking for competence. They want the federal government to do its job: secure the borders, deport violent criminals, and enforce the laws that are already on the books.

And while some Democrats continue to double down on their performative outrage, there are exceptions. Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, is co-sponsoring the Senate version of this bill. He called Riley’s death a “tragic reminder of what’s at stake when our systems fail to protect people.” Well said, Senator. It’s a rare moment of clarity from the other side of the aisle, and it should give us all a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, common sense can still prevail in Washington.

But let’s not kid ourselves—the fight is far from over. The Senate still needs to pass this bill, and the political games are far from finished. Will they prioritize American lives, or will they continue to pander to open-border activists and ignore the consequences?

Written by Mark Stevens - January 8, 2025