America Remembers Laken Hope Riley – One America News Network
OAN Staff Sophia Flores
12:40 PM – Tuesday, January 29, 2025
President Donald Trump has formally enacted the Laken Riley Act, marking it as the first legislation approved by the president upon his return to the White House.
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This bill, signed by Trump on Wednesday, requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain all undocumented immigrants arrested for non-violent offenses, such as theft, as well as for serious crimes like murder, rape, or assault. It notably includes individuals seeking asylum in the United States.
Moreover, the legislation empowers state attorneys general to initiate lawsuits against the federal government if they believe their states are adversely affected by a lack of enforcement of immigration laws.
In his initial remarks, Trump acknowledged the bipartisan success of the bill, emphasizing its significance in uniting Republicans and Democrats.
“This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together. That’s not easy to do,” Trump stated. “Laken did it. America will never ever forget Laken Hope Riley.”
He also underlined that during a time when the administration appeared to favor undocumented individuals over American citizens, the memory of the 22-year-old woman who bravely fought for her life but was ultimately killed by an illegal immigrant will always be honored in the nation. Thus, the bill pays homage to her.
After Trump’s address, Riley’s mother took the stage to speak.
She expressed gratitude to President Trump for fulfilling his commitment to secure the nation’s borders and prevent future tragedies like her daughter’s, at least for the next four years, while also vowing to remember her courageous daughter.
“We want to thank President Trump for the promises he made to us. He said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken,” stated Allyson Phillips, Riley’s mother. “He’s a man of his word. We trust that he will fight for the American people.”
The legislation is named in honor of the 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was murdered in February 2024 by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, while she was jogging.
Before taking Laken’s life, Ibarra had been arrested for illegal entry into the U.S. in September 2022.
Federal officials also noted that he faced a second arrest in 2023 for child endangerment but was released due to the Biden administration’s lenient “catch and release” policies. His most recent arrest occurred in 2023 for shoplifting.
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