1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

The proposed Laken Riley Act seeks to expand mandatory detention for immigrants charged with theft-related offenses, even before conviction. While protecting public safety is important, this blanket approach raises due process concerns and fails to account for individual circumstances. Mandatory detention is an extreme measure that should be applied judiciously. Fiscally, this bill could prove costly by significantly increasing the detained immigrant population and straining limited detention resources. There are more effective, humane alternatives like supervised release programs that prioritize high-risk cases while allowing lower-risk individuals to remain in their communities pending proceedings. I urge you to consider opposing this legislation as currently written. Reasonable reforms that uphold due process, prioritize serious offenses, and utilize alternatives to detention where appropriate could better balance public safety and fiscal pragmatism. Mandatory detention for any charge, no matter how minor, sets an overly broad and potentially unconstitutional precedent.