Following the signing of the Laken Riley Act into law by President Donald Trump, Border Czar Tom Homan emphasized the legislation’s significance in strengthening immigration enforcement. In an interview with Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, Homan highlighted that the new law mandates the detention of non-citizens charged with, convicted of, or admitting to violent or theft-related crimes.
Homan noted that under previous administrations, discretionary policies often led to the release of criminal aliens. He stated, “If this was in effect during the Biden administration, you wouldn’t have seen criminal aliens being released every day—by the hundreds every day.”
The Laken Riley Act, named in honor of a Georgia nursing student who was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant, received bipartisan support in Congress. The legislation aims to prevent similar incidents by ensuring that dangerous individuals are detained and not released back into communities.
Homan described the act as a “game changer,” asserting that it will enhance public safety by mandating the detention of criminal aliens. He emphasized that the law removes discretion in such cases, stating, “It’s no longer an option.”
The act’s implementation is expected to have an immediate impact on immigration enforcement practices, aiming to keep communities safer by ensuring that individuals who pose a threat are detained.
Border Czar Tom Homan on the Laken Riley Act: “If you’re in the country illegally and you get arrested for a crime, you have to detain them. It’s no longer an option. If this was in effect during the Biden administration, you wouldn’t have seen criminal aliens released every day” pic.twitter.com/DFxrQN2ziU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2025