The U. S. Senate passed the Laken Riley Act yesterday, which was co-sponsored by Congressman Derek Schmidt of Kansas. Schmidt says the passage of the Act will make communities in Kansas and across the country safer by requiring the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants who commit offenses including theft, assaults on law enforcement, and violent crimes. He called it a strong first step to begin fixing the border crisis. The Act included portions of “Sarah’s Law” which Schmidt says is personally important to him, as he has prosecuted far too many cases where Kansans were harmed by illegal immigrants who were often under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Laken Riley was a 22-year-old college student who was tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant last year. The Laken Riley Act requires that illegal immigrants who commit property crimes are detained for deportation. The goal is to prevent criminal offenders from committing more severe crimes against U. S. citizens. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law soon.
