1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

The bipartisan Laken Riley Act purports to enhance public safety, but it raises significant due process concerns and would likely undermine effective law enforcement. As explained by legal expert Ilya Somin, mandating federal detention for mere allegations of minor crimes like theft against undocumented immigrants could incentivize abusive prosecutions driven by nativist biases rather than legitimate public safety goals. This wasteful measure would divert resources from pursuing serious criminals while inflicting injustice on many posing little threat. Moreover, detaining contributing members of our communities over baseless accusations violates American principles of fairness and due process. Rather than this misguided overreach, we should pursue sensible immigration policies that uphold both security and human rights. I urge you to reject the unjust and counterproductive Laken Riley Act.