The Laken Riley Act, an anti-illegal immigration bill expected to reach President-elect Trump’s desk soon, could increase funding by $3 billion due to a shortage of detention beds. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it needs 60,000 additional beds to meet the requirements of the bill, which requires detaining illegal immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes.
The agency estimates that this would require approximately $3.2 billion in funding, including $15 million for new Mobile Crisis Assistance Teams and equipment. If supplemental funding is not received, ICE may have to release tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, posing a public safety risk.
ICE already faces underfunding with its existing responsibilities, and the agency has sounded alarm bells about its limited resources. The Laken Riley Act has picked up support from both Republicans and some Democrats, but critics argue that it will lead to mass deportations and strain ICE’s capacity.
The bill is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela last year. Despite bipartisan support, the law’s implementation poses significant challenges, including cooperation from state and local law enforcement partners in sanctuary cities.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ice-says-laken-riley-act-cost-over-3-billion-require-64000-additional-detention-beds