US House of Representatives approves proposed immigration law after murder of university student

The United States House of Representatives approved this Thursday an immigration bill, drafted after the murder of a university student allegedly at the hands of an undocumented person, which would require the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) to detain and deport immigrants who have committed minor crimes.

The project named as Laken Riley Lawin honor of the 22-year-old girl murdered on the University of Georgia campus on February 22, was approved by 251 votes, which included the support of 37 Democrats.

Georgia Congressman Mike Collins, who represents the area where the murder occurred and authored the measure, said in a statement that the legislation gives “more tools” to ICE to detain and deport undocumented immigrants “before they commit serious crimes.”

“While we cannot bring Laken (Riley) back, we must now focus on doing everything we can to prevent this from happening to another American“added the congressman.

Venezuelan José Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested as a suspect in the murder of the young nursing student, and his brother, Diego Ibarra, 29, was also arrested for presenting a false resident card (‘green card’). when questioned by the Police in the middle of the investigation. The latter has been linked to the Venezuelan criminal gang known as the ‘Aragua Train’.

Ibarra entered through the border with Mexico in 2022 as part of the massive wave of migrants who have arrived in the country requesting asylum.

Riley’s death has stirred the immigration debate at the national level, causing the governor of Georgia, Republican Brian P. Kemp, and Republicans on the judiciary committees of the United States Congress to demand that the White House report on Ibarra’s immigration status. and why he had been released.

The bill would amend federal law to require ICE to issue detainers and take custody of undocumented immigrants who commit minor theft-related crimes, such as shoplifting.

The measure would also allow state authorities to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for “policy failures” in enforcing immigration laws and would restrict ICE’s catch-and-release policy.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said of the case that his department had not been notified about prior crimes committed by Ibarra or his brother.

The law now heads to the US Senate where it must be approved by the majority.

Critics of the bill have highlighted that the measure does not provide funds to immigration authorities to deal with the wave of migrants, as President Joe Biden’s Administration has requested.