Hoosier State Today

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Todd Young from Indiana addressed the Senate, urging the passage of the Laken Riley Act. The legislation, which recently passed in the House of Representatives, is now under Senate consideration.

Senator Young expressed his concerns about current border policies, stating, "Weakening border enforcement, incentivizing criminals with specious asylum claims to cross our border, failing to detain and deport these very same people for crimes committed far away from it – these were the policies that led to Laken’s death. This cannot happen again."

The proposed bill aims to enhance immigration enforcement by mandating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest illegal aliens involved in theft-related offenses. It also requires that these individuals be detained until they are deported to prevent further criminal activities.

Young emphasized the importance of enforcing immigration laws as a matter of national security: "Enforcing immigration law is a national security priority… This bill is one of many steps we should take to reverse the Biden Administration’s open border policies… We should pass it now." He added that while President Biden might celebrate recent achievements, efforts to secure the border must begin immediately.

The full speech can be viewed online.