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50 Founders Plaza
East Hartford, CT 06108
50 Founders Plaza
East Hartford, CT 06108
As Donald Trump took office for his second term as President of the United States, one of his first acts was to sign a bill passed by Congress known as the Laken Riley Act. This law follows Trump’s goals of cracking down on illegal immigration by requiring immigrants to be detained when they are arrested for certain crimes. While the stated purpose of the law is to improve public safety in the United States, critics are concerned that it will cause more harm than good.
Because of the issues that immigrants are likely to face when they are arrested and charged with crimes, legal representation is crucial in these situations. A Connecticut attorney who has a strong understanding of how criminal defense intersects with immigration matters can provide legal help, working to defend against a conviction and protect a person’s rights.
The Laken Riley Act is named after a young woman who was murdered in Georgia in 2024. The perpetrator, Jose Antonio Ibarra, was an immigrant who was arrested for illegal entry into the United States in 2022, but he was released while his case was being processed in immigration court. Ibarra was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Lawmakers passed the new law in hopes of preventing similar situations. Under the Laken Riley Act, federal immigration or law enforcement officials are required to detain undocumented immigrants or those who entered or stayed in the U.S. illegally when these immigrants are arrested for or convicted of certain crimes or otherwise admit to committing these offenses. These include theft, shoplifting, burglary, assault on a police officer, or offenses that resulted in someone’s injury or death.
The law also allows states to file lawsuits against the federal government if they or their residents allegedly suffer harm because of the failure to enforce immigration laws. Harm may include injuries to people or financial losses of $100 or more. These lawsuits may address issues such as releasing immigrants from custody, failing to properly inspect immigrants who enter the United States, or failing to detain an immigrant who is subject to a deportation order.
While the Laken Riley Act was passed with bipartisan support, some lawmakers and other advocates for criminal justice and immigration reform are concerned about its potential effects. By requiring immigrants to be detained when they have been accused of crimes, people’s due process rights are likely to be violated. It is likely that immigrants will be detained and potentially deported without the chance to have a fair hearing and contest the accusations against them.
Lawmakers who supported the Laken Riley Act claim that it is necessary to protect people against crimes committed by illegal immigrants. However, because of the law’s focus on low-level offenses like theft and shoplifting, it seems more likely that it will be used to target immigrants and seek to have them detained and deported, regardless of whether they are a potential threat to public safety.
Because of the increased focus on immigration issues under the Trump administration, immigrants who are charged with crimes will need to make sure they take the correct steps to protect their rights. At Woolf & Ross Law Firm, LLC, our East Hartford, CT criminal defense lawyers can provide effective legal representation for people who are facing criminal charges, and we can help immigrants understand how these cases could affect their status in the United States. We work to help our clients resolve their cases successfully while avoiding penalties that could lead to detainment or deportation. Contact us today at 860-290-8690 to arrange a free consultation.
50 Founders Plaza
