All of NM’s US House reps. back criminal aliens, vote against ‘Laken Riley Act’
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on Tuesday, marking the first major legislation approved by the 119th Congress. The bill, named after a Georgia nursing student tragically killed by an illegal immigrant, seeks to bolster public safety by tightening immigration enforcement measures. Despite its widespread bipartisan support, New Mexico’s entire Democratic House delegation—Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Gabe Vasquez, and Melanie Stansbury—voted against the measure, prioritizing policies that benefit criminal aliens over the safety of their constituents.
The bill passed with a 264 to 159 vote, earning the backing of all voting Republicans and 48 Democrats. This represents an increase in Democratic support compared to last year’s vote on the legislation, signaling growing bipartisan concern over immigration enforcement failures. “We welcome with open arms any Democrat who wants to help us solve these problems because the American people demand and deserve it,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said ahead of the vote.
The Laken Riley Act requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants convicted of theft-related crimes and grants states the authority to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for harm caused by federal immigration policies. Proponents argue that the bill is a necessary step to hold the Biden administration accountable for its perceived leniency on border security.
“It’s striking that one of Gabe Vasquez’s first votes in Congress is against keeping New Mexico families safe. Vasquez wants an America where illegal migrants can murder, rape or steal without fear of punishment,” wrote the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Will Reinert.
“Today, Gabe Vasquez proved to New Mexicans that their safety and well-being is not his priority,” said Congressional Leadership Fund Regional Press Secretary Maureen O’Toole. “What will it take for Vasquez to protect New Mexico families and take border security seriously?”
“House Republicans won’t stop fighting to secure the border and protect American communities,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said. “When will Democrats finally decide enough is enough?” Scalise emphasized that the bill directly addresses the tragic consequences of lax immigration policies, such as the murder of Laken Riley.
Jose Ibarra, the illegal immigrant convicted of Riley’s murder, had a history of prior arrests but was never detained by ICE. This failure to act, critics say, underscores systemic flaws in federal immigration enforcement. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., who introduced the bill, called the measure a “commonsense” approach to protecting American lives.
Despite these arguments, Reps. Leger Fernandez, Vasquez, and Stansbury sided with the majority of their party in opposing the legislation. Their votes have sparked criticism from New Mexicans who view the bill as a straightforward measure to enhance public safety, and their votes resonate even louder since New Mexico is a border state. By opposing the act, the delegation has chosen to align with policies that prioritize illegal immigrants over the well-being of law-abiding citizens.
“I think they put politics ahead of principle,” Speaker Johnson said of Democrats who opposed the bill last year. The same criticism is now being directed at New Mexico’s representatives, who are accused of turning their backs on constituents concerned about rising crime and border insecurity.
The Laken Riley Act’s passage comes amid broader Republican efforts to reintroduce border security legislation as the party takes control of both chambers of Congress. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure later this week, potentially setting up a showdown with Joe Biden, whose administration has faced sharp criticism over its immigration policies.
All of NM’s US House reps. back criminal aliens, vote against ‘Laken Riley Act’ Read More »