The Laken Riley Act is a United States law that requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants[1] admitting to,[2] charged with, or convicted of theft-related crimes,[3] assaulting a police officer, or a crime that results in death or serious bodily injury like drunk driving.

[4][5] The Act also allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for alleged failures in immigration enforcement.

[11] The murder gained attention from both politicians and the media because Ibarra entered the United States illegally and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case.

[17] On January 8, Senate Majority Leader John Thune moved to proceed to the consideration of the Laken Riley Act.

[20] The Senate passed the amended bill version by a vote of 64–35 on January 20, with twelve Democrats joining all Republicans.

[24] The American Immigration Council, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the National Education Association, the National Organization for Women, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the United Steelworkers, the United Church of Christ, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Council of Churches, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights all opposed the bill.

[25][26][27] Critics of the bill expressed concern that it required the deportation of illegal immigrants who were charged, as opposed to actually convicted, of a crime.