House Passes Laken Riley Act — Critics Say It Dismantles Constitutional Rights

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act, a bill that erodes constitutional protections for immigrants living in the U.S., including due process rights.

The bill is the first piece of legislation passed by either house in the 119th Congress. It is named for a Georgia nursing student who was murdered in early 2024 by an immigrant living in the state.

Riley’s killing was highly politicized by president-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans in an effort to boost support for their anti-immigrant agenda, which includes plans for mass arrests, immigrant prisons, and militarized deportations. Despite GOP fear mongering, however, crime rates among immigrants living in the U.S. are much lower than crime rates among U.S.- born citizens.