Mother of Laken Riley Breaks Down in Tears, Thanks Jesus Before Trump Signs Bill in Her Name [WATCH]

President Donald Trump secured his first major legislative victory of his second term on Wednesday by signing the Laken Riley Act into law.

The measure, aimed at tightening immigration enforcement, mandates the detention of illegal immigrants accused of theft or violent crimes before they stand trial.

The signing ceremony took place in the nation’s capital, with lawmakers, supporters, and the family of Laken Riley in attendance.

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The law is named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student who was murdered in Georgia by an illegal immigrant.

Her death became a focal point in the ongoing national debate over border security and the impact of lax immigration policies.

The legislation was spearheaded by Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) and Congressman Mike Collins (R-GA) and received bipartisan support in the Senate.

The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal immigrants charged with burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. It also grants states the authority to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement failures.

At the signing ceremony, Riley’s mother delivered an emotional speech, expressing gratitude to lawmakers and President Trump for their efforts in passing the bill.

“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,” she said.

She also thanked the American people for their support during the legislative process.

“Our family will forever be grateful for the prayers of the people across our nation and for helping to get this legislation into law,” she added.

Addressing President Trump directly, she acknowledged his commitment to the cause.

“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 concluded by reflecting on her faith and her daughter’s legacy.

“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.”

Laken Riley’s mom, Allyson Phillips, before the signing of the Laken Riley Act:

“We also want to thank President Trump for the promises he made to us. He said he would secure our borders and that he never would forget about Laken — and he hasn’t. He is a man of his word.” pic.twitter.com/nCR53d8E9f

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2025

The passage of the Laken Riley Act marks a renewed effort by the Trump administration to strengthen immigration policies.

The law requires DHS to detain individuals who are unlawfully present in the country and have been arrested or charged with theft-related crimes.

It also allows states to take legal action against the federal government for decisions related to immigration enforcement.

With this legislation now in effect, Trump has signaled his administration’s intent to prioritize border security.

The bipartisan support for the bill reflects growing public frustration over illegal immigration and its consequences.

The signing of the Laken Riley Act represents a significant step in Trump’s immigration agenda, reinforcing his campaign promise to enforce stricter border policies.

As his administration moves forward, further immigration reforms are expected to follow.

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