Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the Senate floor today, focusing on the tragic case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Augusta University in Georgia who was murdered last February while running on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia. Thune highlighted that Riley's killer had entered the country illegally and was released into the interior after being arrested in New York City. He was later issued a citation for shoplifting in Georgia shortly before Riley's murder.

Thune emphasized, "Laken’s killer should have been detained long before he had a chance to get near her last February." He criticized the release of individuals like Riley's killer back into society and pointed out flaws in current immigration enforcement procedures.

Following this incident, Senator Katie Britt and Senator Budd introduced legislation requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals charged with theft, burglary, or shoplifting. Thune described it as "a commonsense measure that should be an unquestioned yes for every senator."

The Senate is now considering this bill after Democrats blocked a vote on it last year. Thune noted that 33 Democrat senators voted to move forward with the bill on Thursday, indicating potential bipartisan cooperation. However, he cautioned against adding unrelated measures to the bill.

"This is not – I emphasize, not – a comprehensive immigration bill," Thune stated. He stressed that the legislation aims to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies as Laken Riley's family.

Thune also mentioned ongoing efforts by Senate Republicans to develop a major package addressing border and immigration security needs, including increased funding for ICE officers and Border Patrol agents.

"In the meantime," Thune concluded, "we have a bill before us today that will address one problem in current immigration law – and perhaps prevent other families from suffering the pain that Laken Riley’s has suffered."