Following the signing of the Laken Riley Act by President Trump, Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement emphasizing the significance of the new legislation. The act aims to ensure that criminal illegal aliens are detained and provides attorneys general with a greater role in enforcing immigration laws.
In his statement, Paxton attributed recent challenges to what he described as "Joe Biden’s open borders policies." He remarked, “Joe Biden’s open borders policies have been directly responsible for devastating consequences across this country, including the tragic murder of Laken Riley. Her murder should have never happened, and I stand with President Trump in his efforts to catch and detain every single violent, criminal illegal immigrant that Joe Biden invited into this country."
Paxton expressed support for the Laken Riley Act's mission and its potential impact on federal immigration law enforcement. "The Laken Riley Act will help us accomplish that mission and empower attorneys general like myself to play an even more active role in ensuring that our federal immigration laws are followed," he stated. Furthermore, he committed to working alongside President Trump to address what he views as problematic border policies: "I will continue to work with President Trump to reverse Joe Biden’s lawless open borders policies and ensure that illegal aliens who wish to harm our nation’s citizens are brought to justice."
The act expands the list of criminal offenses leading to mandatory detention for illegal aliens. This includes crimes such as burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Additionally, the legislation grants state attorneys general authority over these detention requirements and limits parole grants for aliens. According to Paxton's statement, if this provision had been enacted during Biden's tenure, it would have provided him with additional means to challenge Biden's immigration strategies.