President Donald Trump has signed the Laken Riley Act as his first legislative move upon reentering the White House, cementing his commitment to strengthening border security and protecting American citizens. The bill mandates the detention of illegal migrants charged with theft-related crimes, and grants states the authority to sue the federal government for damages caused by illegal immigration.
The legislation honors the memory of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered in February 2024 by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who was in the U.S. illegally. Ibarra was convicted of her murder in November and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
During the bill-signing ceremony, President Trump expressed his heartfelt condolences to Riley’s grieving family, calling her a “beautiful” young woman and vowing that her legacy would not be forgotten. “To Laken’s family, we will keep Laken’s memory alive,” Trump said. “America will never forget Laken Hope Riley.”
Laken’s mother, Allyson Philips, took the podium to express her gratitude for the president’s unwavering commitment to honoring her daughter’s memory. She also thanked the Lord, proclaiming that her faith in Jesus Christ gives her family strength to endure the unimaginable loss.
“Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Philips declared, her voice breaking with emotion. “Without His sacrifices, Laken’s story would have ended on that horrific day she was taken from us. But because of Him, we can continue, knowing that we will see Laken again.”
Through tears, Philips expressed her hope that her daughter’s tragic death would serve as a catalyst for saving lives, saying, “Our hope moving forward is that her life saves lives.”
The Laken Riley Act seeks to hold illegal immigrants accountable for violent and theft-related crimes by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to detain those charged with offenses such as burglary, larceny, assaulting police officers, and crimes that result in injury or death. Additionally, the bill empowers states to sue the federal government when immigration policies result in harm to American citizens.
During the ceremony, President Trump also addressed several Angel families—those who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants. He specifically mentioned Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five who was murdered by an illegal immigrant in August 2023. Trump reiterated his stance that the Biden administration’s lax immigration policies enabled such tragedies.
“These families have suffered tremendously,” Trump stated. “The previous administration should have protected them, but instead, they allowed criminal illegal migrants to flood into our country. We will not let that happen again.”
Since taking office, President Trump has swiftly enacted executive orders aimed at strengthening border security. One of his first moves was designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a step he believes is necessary to dismantle their influence and protect American communities.
Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar and former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, underscored the administration’s dedication to eliminating criminal networks that exploit the nation’s borders.
“[Trump] is going to put the cartels out of business,” Homan told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “We’ve got the whole of government working together to dismantle these people and wipe them off the face of the Earth. They’re not going to go lightly.”
Homan further assured Americans that the administration is taking decisive action to halt human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other illegal activities facilitated by cartels. “We’re taking them out of the trafficking business. We’re taking them out of the smuggling business. We’re taking them out of the dope business.”
As the nation processes the significance of the Laken Riley Act, Christians across the country find inspiration in Riley’s family’s unwavering faith. Even in the face of unbearable tragedy, Philips and her loved ones cling to the promise of God’s eternal plan.