Latino Policy Forum Condemns Passage of Anti-Immigrant Laken Riley Act; Urges Community to Know Their Rights

CHICAGO – Today, the House of Representatives passed S. 5, known as the “Laken-Riley Act,” an extreme anti-immigrant bill that would require the government to detain people who pose no risk to their communities and that many legal experts agree is a clear violation of the due process guarantees of the U.S. Constitution. Under the new law, ICE will be required to arrest and detain someone who is undocumented if they have simply been accused of a crime as minor as shoplifting. This is the first immigration bill put forward by the new Congress and the President has said he will sign it into law.

Latino Policy Forum Vice President of Civic Engagement, José Marco-Paredes, issued the following statement:

“This unnecessary law exploits a tragedy to demonize, target and harm immigrant families. Undocumented immigrants are our neighbors, classmates, co-workers, friends and family. They revitalize communities and businesses, and our country is stronger and better because of them.

“I want our immigrant friends and neighbors and everyone who cares about them to know that they have rights. Know what to do if you encounter an ICE agent, and the legal resources that are available to you. You also have a community behind you and you are not alone.

“Finally, I want to thank our representatives in the House and Senate who recognized that this bill was not in the interest of their constituents and their safety and voted against this bill.”

Know Your Rights resources by The Resurrection Project, available here.

If you encounter ICE or see them in your community, please call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) 24-Hour Family Support Hotline at 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693).

Lea este comunicado de prensa en español, aquí.