Bipartisan Support for Laken Riley Act
Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., expressed confidence on Tuesday that the Laken Riley Act has bipartisan support in the House.
“On both sides of the aisle, we know that safety and security of our citizens is paramount for what we do here in Washington, D.C.,” Bergman stated during an appearance on Newsmax’s National Report.
The proposed legislation, named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an illegal migrant, would require ICE to take custody of illegal migrants who commit theft-related crimes. The bill passed the House last year but did not advance in the Senate.
“We need to ensure that everybody who is in our country, if they’ve been detained, convicted … are not returned to the streets without the real due process,” Bergman said. “In some cases, if you’re here illegally, you’re going to stay in jail until your action has been adjudicated.”
He also expressed optimism that the bill will gain support from Democrats.
“It’s a good bill,” Bergman remarked. “Unfortunately, it’s necessary. It shouldn’t have been necessary. But the last four years we’ve had an administration that was just flat soft on crime and soft on everything.”