Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act. Representative John James (MI-10) was a cosponsor of the bill and voted in favor of this legislation.


Laken Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant while jogging on the University of Georgia’s campus. The Biden Administration first released Laken Riley’s alleged killer into the United States in 2022. Later, her alleged killer was arrested for theft but was released by local authorities—just months before her murder. H.R. 7511 requires that illegal immigrants charged with theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting be detained in custody by the Department of Homeland Security, rather than be released.


Rep. James released the following statement following the passage of H.R. 7511:


“Laken Riley’s death was entirely preventable and never should have occurred. Her eventual murderer was detained and released not once, but twice, before he took Laken’s life. The Laken Riley Act is an essential step in assuring that no family must experience what the Riley family has ever again. Anybody who illegally enters the United States and commits a crime should be removed from the United States. Full stop.”

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