Trump's first legislative victory
Jan 23, 2025
Washington [US], January 23: The US Congress has passed a bill allowing the arrest of illegal immigrants accused of crimes, becoming the first bill that could be signed by President Donald Trump in his second term.
AP reported that the US House of Representatives on January 22 passed the Laken Riley Act, named after a Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an illegal Venezuelan immigrant last year. The Senate had previously passed the bill.
The bill requires the arrest of illegal immigrants accused of theft or violence. According to CNN, the law allows state attorneys general to sue in federal court to overturn federal orders to release certain immigrants. Attorneys general could also sue to force the State Department to ban visas for countries that refuse to accept citizens facing deportation.
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on January 22 with 263 votes in favor, including 46 Democratic congressmen, and 156 votes against.
The bill passed by Congress is a major victory for President Trump , who has a hardline immigration policy. It will likely be the first law enacted in Trump 's second term .
Immediately after taking office on January 20, President Trump signed a series of executive orders, including declaring a state of emergency at the US border with Mexico, allowing authorities to go to places such as churches and schools to arrest illegal immigrants, and starting the process of ending birthright citizenship.
The Pentagon is also sending 1,500 troops to the Mexico border to join the 2,500 National Guard members already there providing logistical support for border patrol.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
