Garden State Times

Senator Parker Space, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, and Assemblyman Michael Inganamort have expressed their approval of the recent enactment of the Laken Riley Act. This legislation marks the first bill signed into law by President Trump under his new administration.

"By having this bill be the first one signed by President Trump in this administration shows that America is taking border security seriously once again," said Senator Space. "Illegal immigrants shouldn’t be allowed to roam free in our country, especially criminals. This is the start of a new era of diligent law and order where we put American safety and sovereignty first."

The act is named in memory of Laken Riley, who was killed on a college campus in 2024 by an illegal immigrant with prior arrests but had been released. Assemblywoman Fantasia emphasized, "If our immigration policies hadn’t been so lax under the Biden Administration, Laken Riley would be alive today. Laken Riley’s murderer should have been detained and deported due to his previous transgressions. Her tragic death highlights the danger in releasing criminal migrants back onto the streets without consequences, and the undisputable fact that porous borders make our communities less safe."

The legislation mandates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes until they can be deported. It also allows states to legally challenge federal immigration enforcement actions perceived as harmful to their residents.

Assemblyman Inganamort stated, "Today’s signing demonstrates that our country is committed to securing our border, protecting our families and communities, and giving law enforcement the tools they need to effectively carry out the law. Illegal immigrants who commit crimes don’t belong on our streets; they belong on a flight out of the United States for good."

The District 24 legislators were sponsors of state legislation urging Congress to pass the Laken Riley Act. They also support S-1326/A-3841, which aims to prevent illegal immigrants from being released from correctional facilities.