Thumbwind: Tim Walberg Hails Passage of Laken Riley Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has signed the Laken Riley Act into law, marking the first legislative action of his second term. The law, aimed at tightening immigration enforcement, mandates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain undocumented immigrants who commit a range of offenses, including theft, burglary, shoplifting, and violent crimes resulting in bodily harm or death.

The act, named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student murdered by an undocumented immigrant in 2024, has stirred significant debate. Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-05), who supported the bill, emphasized its role in “safeguarding our communities from violent crime.”

Congressman Tim Walberg, representing Michigan’s 5th Congressional District, was among the lawmakers pushing for swift passage of the bill. After voting in favor of the act on January 7, 2025, Walberg supported the Senate-amended version, which expanded the list of crimes warranting detention. The House passed the final version on January 22, 2025, in a 263-156 vote.

“With the first piece of legislation signed into law during President Trump’s second term in office, we are safeguarding our communities from violent crime at the hands of illegal immigrants,” Walberg said. He added that the legislation takes a “vital step” in securing U.S. borders and ensuring public safety.