Laken Riley Act: You could be detained for shoplifting

The US House of Representatives recently passed the Laken Riley Act, with support from both Republicans and Democrats. The Senate will now vote on the measure and, if passed, it will be signed into law. It is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant who was in the US unlawfully after having previously been apprehended by Border Patrol but released into the US.

If the Laken Riley Act becomes law, it will require immigration officers to arrest and detain non-citizens who commit minor theft offenses, including shoplifting of $100 or more. The Laken Riley Act begins with denouncing Biden’s open-border policies and calls for the immediate end of the “catch and release” of illegal aliens, increasing immigration enforcement and detaining and removing criminal aliens.

The proposed legislation provides that immigration officers “shall” take into custody any alien who is considered “inadmissible” because they entered the US without being admitted or paroled, committed fraud or lack a visa, AND “is charged with, is arrested for, is convicted of, admits having committed, or admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of any burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting offense.”

It is estimated that at least 20,000 or more non-citizens could be detained for having committed relatively minor offenses. This would divert immigration officers from going after the really violent non-citizens, terrorists, felons, etc. and fill up immigration detention centers with people who committed relatively minor, non-violent offenses, such as shoplifting.

If you or someone you know had committed a relatively minor offense and are considering applying for immigration benefits, you should definitely consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation, because if the Laken Riley Act becomes law, you could be detained and deported. In fact, the findings and “sense of Congress” (that are at the beginning of the proposed legislation) demonstrate a very harsh approach to immigration and even obtained Democrats’ support.

*      *      *

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com

Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw, YouTube: US Immigration TV and Instagram.com/gurfinkellaw

Four offices to serve you: Los Angeles; San Francisco; New York: Toll free number: 1-866-GURFINKEL (1-866-487-3465); Philippines: +632 88940258 or +632 88940239