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WATCH: Laken Riley’s Mom Breaks Down In Tears As She Thanks Trump For Signing Bill

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President Donald Trump marked the first major legislative victory of his second term on Wednesday, signing into law the Laken Riley Act—a bill aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement and detaining illegal immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes before a conviction. The signing took place in Washington, D.C., with lawmakers, supporters, and Riley’s family in attendance.

The law is named after Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant in Georgia. Her death ignited a nationwide debate on border security and the consequences of lax immigration policies.

The legislation, championed by Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) and Congressman Mike Collins (R-GA), now requires that illegal immigrants charged with theft or violent offenses be detained and face potential deportation before trial. At the signing ceremony, Riley’s mother delivered an emotional speech, thanking lawmakers and the president for their commitment to honoring her daughter’s legacy.

“We would like to thank Senator Katie Britt for her diligent bipartisan work to get this bill through the Senate. We’d also like to thank Congressman Mike Collins for his unwavering passion and for leading on the Laken Riley Act from the start.”

“Our family will forever be grateful for the prayers of the people across our nation and for helping to get this legislation into law,” Laken’s mother continued. Her gratitude extended to President Trump, saying, “We also want to thank President Trump for the promises he made to us.”

“He said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken. And he hasn’t. He’s a man of his word. I trust that he will fight for the American people,” she said, holding back tears.

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She ended her remarks by placing her faith in God, stressing the enduring impact of her daughter’s life. “Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, because without His sacrifices, Laken’s story would have ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us.

“But because of Him, we can continue living knowing that we will see Laken again. There’s no amount of change that will ever bring back our precious Laken. Our hope moving forward is that her life saves lives.”

The signing of the Laken Riley Act signals the beginning of Trump’s renewed push to tighten border policies. With his administration prioritizing national security and immigration enforcement, many see this victory as a clear indication that Trump is wasting no time in fulfilling his promises to the American people.

The law passed the Senate with bipartisan support, an indication of the growing frustration among Americans over unchecked illegal immigration. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain certain non-U.S. nationals and aliens under federal law who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

The bill also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement. DHS must detain an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or did not possess the necessary documents when applying for admission and has been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.