Outcry as President Trump Enacts Controversial Immigration Law
Critics are up in arms over President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement of a new piece of legislation that, according to detractors, could undermine the due process rights of millions, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as migrant children, sexual assault victims, and domestic violence survivors.
The bill, dubbed the Laken Riley Act after a young woman who was tragically killed last year by a Venezuelan immigrant who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally, was signed into law by Trump with claims that it would be a “landmark law” essential for “saving countless innocent American lives.”
“The Laken Riley Act is rooted in unfounded, xenophobic myths that vilify and scapegoat an entire community based on the actions of one individual.”
Amy Fischer, the director of the ACLU’s Refugee and Migrant Rights Program, expressed her concerns on Wednesday, stating, “The Laken Riley Act exploits a terrible tragedy to push forward President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda by demonizing asylum seekers and erasing their due process rights.”
Fischer pointed out, “This law requires the immediate arrest and incarceration of undocumented individuals for any allegations of theft-related offenses, including shoplifting or burglary. Imposing mandatory detention on the basis of mere accusations violates the principles of due process and is considered arbitrary detention under international human rights standards.”
Fischer further elaborated, “The Act propagates dangerous xenophobic falsehoods, tearing families apart and undermining the safety of our communities. It is reprehensible for legislators to establish a system that incentivizes false accusations against immigrants, knowing such accusations will lead to compulsory detention.”
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the Bay Area also condemned the legislation as “disgraceful and unconstitutional,” emphasizing on Wednesday: “The statute does not even require a conviction—just an accusation is sufficient to land someone in detention without judicial oversight. This strips away fundamental due process rights and opens the door to discrimination against vulnerable immigrant groups.”
The organization continued:
The U.S. government already possesses the authority to detain and deport individuals who engage in criminal activities. Typically, our legal system allows judges to serve as a constitutional safeguard against overreach by law enforcement. This new law eliminates that safeguard. It directly infringes upon the constitutional rights of immigrants and people of color, degrades civil liberties broadly across American society, encourages racial profiling, and diverts critical law enforcement resources from genuine dangers, thereby reducing community safety.
“We, along with our partners, are committed to legally challenging this unconstitutional law,” stated Bianca Sierra Wolff, executive director of the group. “We refuse to sit by as the rights of immigrants and communities of color are sacrificed for political advantage.”
Writing for Common Dreams on Wednesday, Neha Desai, senior director at the National Center for Youth Law, and attorney Melissa Adamson criticized the passing of the Laken Riley Act and called on Congress, which approved the bill with bipartisan support, to “act ethically” by proposing “new legislation to shield children from this harsh law.”
“It’s disconcerting to see leaders from both political parties quickly back a bill that disregards the humanity of immigrant children, children who deserve the same protection and care as their own,” argued Desai and Adamson. “It’s crucial that Congress stand firm on fundamental principles rather than yielding to a climate where denying children’s rights becomes standard.”
Following Trump’s election victory last November, stock prices for private prison firms have surged, partly driven by expectations of increased business stemming from the Laken Riley Act and the ongoing extensive deportation initiatives.
On the same day, Trump announced plans to instruct the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare a large detention facility—described by some critics as a “concentration camp”—capable of housing 30,000 migrants at the infamous Guantánamo Bay military prison in Cuba.
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