The Alabama House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Thursday.
The Laken Riley Act allows state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into a voluntary Memorandum of Understanding with federal law enforcement agencies to enforce existing illegal immigration laws.
“As Alabama continues to deal with an influx of illegal immigrants that entered our state during the previous president’s administration, we need to empower our state and local law enforcement agencies to protect their communities,” said Speaker Ledbetter. “People who enter this country illegally and commit violent crimes have zero place in our society. This is a commonsense, pro-public safety piece of legislation that is long overdue in our state. I appreciate Rep. Yarbrough’s hard work on this bill and am eager to see it signed into law.”
HB7 was carried by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R- Trinity.
“I appreciate Speaker Ledbetter and my colleagues for supporting this important legislation and taking a significant step toward protecting our state and her people,” said Rep. Yarbrough. “Laken Riley’s death was tragic, and my goal is to help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the state of Alabama. The bottom line is that this bill isn’t aimed at vilifying immigrants – it’s about the safety of Alabamians.”
Additionally, the legislation would:
- Allow state and local government employees to maintain information relating to the immigration status of any individual.
- Allow state and local law enforcement officers to transport an undocumented immigrant to the federal government’s custody.
- Allow local law enforcement to arrest an undocumented immigrant based on his or her status as an undocumented immigrant or for violating any federal immigration law.
- Create standard procedures for the intake and booking of undocumented immigrants and foreign nationals in county and municipal jails.
- Require jails to honor immigration detainer requests issued by the Department of Homeland Security in certain circumstances.
The Laken Riley Act now goes to the Alabama State Senate.
