Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a significant move, the Republican-controlled US Congress passed the Laken Riley Act on Wednesday, marking an early win for President Donald Trump in his ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration. The bill, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft-related crimes, passed the Senate earlier this week with a 64-35 vote, and was approved by the House of Representatives with a 263-256 vote.
The legislation garnered bipartisan support, with 46 Democrats joining Republicans in voting for the bill in the House, while 12 Democrats backed it in the Senate.
The Laken Riley Act is named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, a student who was tragically murdered by an undocumented Venezuelan man who was wanted for shoplifting. The bill is aligned with Trump’s tough stance on immigration, which has included executive orders for mass deportations and the deployment of US troops to the southern border to curb illegal crossings.
This bill will be the first piece of legislation signed into law during Trump’s second term, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to stricter immigration policies.
