Senator Katie Britt commemorates One-Year anniversary of Laken Riley Act being signed into Law

January 29, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) commemorated the one-year anniversary of President Donald J. Trump (R) signing the Laken Riley Act into law. This bipartisan, landmark piece of legislation was the first bill signed into law by President Trump in his second term. The effort to pass the bill was led by Senator Britt in the United States Senate. It was the first major immigration enforcement and border security-related legislation passed since 1996.

“Americans have grown accustomed to empty talk from politicians in Washington, but the signing of the Laken Riley Act a year ago today signaled to Americans everywhere that the Trump Administration and Senate Republicans are committed to taking action on the issues that matter most to them,” said Senator Britt. “, “The Laken Riley Act is keeping Americans safe by requiring the detention of illegal aliens arrested for violent crimes such as murder, rape, sexual abuse, and assault on police officers, and the success of this legislation is seen in the numbers, with more than 17,500 criminal illegal aliens taken off our streets and unable to commit further crimes.”

Since the Laken Riley Act was signed into law, more than 17,500 illegal aliens have been arrested under the authority of the law. These actions to protect families and communities stand in stark contrast to the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies that resulted in over half a million illegal aliens on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) non-detained docket by mid 2024 who had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges and were released back into the United States.

On February 22, 2024 Georgia 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Hope Riley was jogging near the University of Georgia campus, when Jose Antonio Ibarraa attempted to sexually assault young Laken. She resisted so he killed her. The crime became a national flashpoint since Ibarra, was in the U.S. illegally. There have been numerous Americans killed by people illegally in the country; but this case became the one that finally stirred the public and our elected leaders into action.

Senator Britt said, “If this commonsense legislation had been on the books, Laken would likely still be with us today; we will never forget her. I’m proud to have played a role in her legacy and in the effort to keep Americans safe, with the hope that no other family will have to experience the heartache and tragedy Laken’s did.”

At the bill signing a year ago, President Trump said that 425,000 criminals were illegally in the country and were loose on the streets. 13,099 of them had been convicted of murders.

“Under the Trump administration, we're moving with urgency and speed to get these vicious and violent criminals the hell out of our country and to restore law and order to our suburbs, our cities, and our towns,” said Trump.

Katie Britt was elected in 2022 after previous experience as Executive Director of the Business Council of Alabama, an attorney, and Senator Richard Shelby’s chief of staff.