Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a coalition of 25 other state attorneys general in sending a letter to leaders in the U.S. Senate urging the immediate passage of the Laken Riley Act.
Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student, was allegedly killed at the hands of an illegal Venezuelan immigrant while on a jog near campus.
“Laken Riley's murder should not have happened. I encourage the Senate to pass this legislation to prevent similar evils in the future, and to recognize that our open border policies must end immediately,” said AG Skrmetti.
“Our hearts and prayers are with her family and friends… pic.twitter.com/291cDfnJy1
— TN Attorney General (@AGTennessee) March 13, 2024
The Laken Riley Act would require ICE to issue a detainer for illegal aliens who are charged or cited with theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. The bill would also ensure that states have the standing to bring civil action against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or violate the law.
The legislation passed the House of Representatives last week by a 251-170 vote. Every no-vote belonged to a Democrat representative.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Skrmetti and the coalition of attorneys general called the Laken Riley Act a “strong bill that can act as another arrow in the quiver when it comes to combating illegal immigration and protecting Americans.”
“President Biden’s repeated actions of ignoring the rule of law and abandoning successful policies have created a border crisis of historic proportions,” the coalition said. “As attorneys general, we are fighting to preserve the rule of law and keep our states safe when the federal government fails to act or, in the case of illegal immigration, actively makes it worse. To that end, we applaud the bill’s enforcement provision for State Attorneys General.”
“Please advance this bill to a vote as soon as possible. Laken Riley should still be alive. Let her memory be used to protect others before it’s too late,” the coalition added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Jonathan Skrmetti” by Tennessee Attorney General.
