Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune recently addressed the Senate floor, emphasizing the Republican commitment to addressing illegal immigration in the United States. He introduced the Laken Riley Act as a priority for the new Republican majorities in both the House and Senate.

Thune stated, "The American people are rightly concerned about the illegal immigration crisis in this country." He added that Republicans have made it their first order of business to tackle this issue through legislative action.

The Laken Riley Act mandates detention for illegal immigrants involved in theft-related crimes. Thune argued that if such a law had been in place earlier, it might have prevented tragedies like the murder of Laken Riley. He explained, "If this bill had already been law, the illegal immigrant who killed Laken Riley would not have been on the streets."

Despite its straightforward nature, Thune noted opposition from some Democrats who argue that it covers too many individuals and could overwhelm Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources. Thune countered these points by suggesting additional resources for ICE rather than allowing criminals to remain free.

Thune criticized Democrats' reluctance to support measures like Senator Cornyn's amendment requiring detention for illegal immigrants who assault police officers. "More than half of the Democrats in the United States Senate apparently don’t believe we should have to detain these individuals," he remarked.

He concluded by highlighting public demand for secure borders and citing Laken Riley's family’s support for the bill: “There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill.”