Urges Congress and President of United States to enact "Laken Riley Act."

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Fantasia and 4 co-sponsors

New Jersey urges Congress and the President to enact the federal Laken Riley Act to detain certain illegal entrants accused of theft, framed as a public safety measure.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee

#memorializat

Overview

Type: Assembly Resolution (memorialization)

Title: Urges Congress and President of the United States to enact the “Laken Riley Act.”

Status: Introduced in the New Jersey General Assembly on May 6, 2024; referred to the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee

Related: Companion SR 95 (Senate Resolution)

Purpose and Intent

The resolution seeks to publicly urge the federal government to enact the so-called Laken Riley Act.

It frames the request as a response to the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia, and to broader concerns about immigration policy and public safety.

The resolution asserts that federal action—specifically enacting the Laken Riley Act—would enhance public safety by addressing the detention of certain migrants who enter the United States illegally and are accused of theft or burglary.

Key Provisions and Changes Called for

The resolution itself does not enact law in New Jersey. Instead, it:

Respectfully urges the United States Congress and the President to enact the Laken Riley Act.
Requests that duly authenticated copies of the resolution be transmitted to the President, congressional leaders (Majority and Minority Leaders of the U.S. Senate and House), and to every Member of Congress elected from New Jersey.

The content describes the Laken Riley Act as a federal measure that would require migrants who enter the country illegally and are accused of theft to be taken into federal custody. It argues such a policy would have helped prevent the murder in this case by detaining individuals who commit theft.

Affected Parties and Scope

Direct effect: none at the state level, as the resolution does not change New Jersey law or duties.

Indirect effect: positions the issue within the national debate on immigration enforcement; aligns with supporters who advocate federal detention authority for certain migrants who commit theft.

Cited beneficiaries: the broader public safety context referenced by supporters; the resolution specifically cites the Laken Riley tragedy and related charges against the suspect.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Introduced: May 6, 2024

Committee action: Referenced to the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (no further actions listed in the provided text)

Status indicates the measure is at the committee stage within the New Jersey Assembly

Legislative note: The bill references and urges a federal action rather than creating New Jersey-specific mandates.

Context and Notes

The resolution emphasizes a link between alleged lax immigration policies and violent outcomes, using the Laken Riley case as a catalyst.

A companion measure exists at the Senate level (SR 95), indicating parallel efforts to advocate federal action.

In sum, AR 137 is a New Jersey Assembly memorialization urging federal enactment of the Laken Riley Act, framed as a public safety measure in response to a high-profile crime. It does not implement new state law but seeks federal action and directs transmission of the resolution to national leaders.

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