Tom Emmer
01/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 17:10
ICYMI: Emmer rips Moriarty over her criticism of the nonpartisan Laken Riley Act
Washington, D.C.- Recently, Congressman Emmer took Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to task over her comments on the bipartisan Laken Riley Act. This commonsense safety initiative passed the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate earlier this month, and is expected to be one of the first pieces of legislation that President Trump signs into law. <_o3a_p>
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Alpha News
Luke Sprinkel
January 16, 2024 <_o3a_p>
In an exclusive statement to Alpha News, U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer slammed Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty for her public opposition to the Laken Riley Act.
The Laken Riley Act is a piece of federal legislation currently moving through Congress. The proposed law would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take custody of illegal aliens who are charged with, or arrested for, crimes such as burglary, shoplifting, and other offenses. In turn, the illegal aliens may be deported by ICE.
Additionally, the bill would allow state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for decisions DHS makes, such as releasing an illegal alien from custody and failing to enforce federal immigration law, if those actions harm a state or its citizens.
The legislation is named for Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student who was murdered by an illegal alien last year. Weeks ago, the murderer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act earlier this month, and the bill is currently being amended by the U.S. Senate. At present, the law appears to have enough support from lawmakers to be sent to the president for his signature. The Laken Riley Act will likely become the first bill signed into law by incoming President Donald Trump.
Despite receiving bipartisan support in Congress, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has publicly lambasted the law. Last week, the county attorney put out a statement which said: "If the goal of this bill is to protect public safety, its supporters should know that it will do the opposite."
At a Wednesday press conference, Moriarty argued that the Laken Riley Act will result in deportations without due process, target legal permanent residents as well, and make it more difficult for local officials to prosecute crime because "noncitizens" will be afraid to come forward and cooperate with public safety officials.
"This bill could also lead to more violence in our communities," said the county attorney. "If a person commits a crime against a noncitizen, all the person would have to do is threaten to go to the police first and accuse the victim of theft. That would be enough to have ICE detain them and eventually deport the noncitizen, and the person who caused the harm would go scot free."
In urging the U.S. Senate to reject the Laken Riley Act, the county attorney opined that the bill would "open the flood gates" for people to channel "xenophobia" against "noncitizens."
Meanwhile, proponents of the bill say it is a necessary and common-sense measure to protect American citizens. According to legal analysts with the Heritage Foundation, the Supreme Court has held that illegal aliens do not have the same due process rights as citizens.
In response to Moriarty's public opposition to the Laken Riley Act, Majority Whip Emmer denounced the Hennepin County attorney.
"Mary Moriarty is a radical leftist and a complete disgrace to our state," Emmer told Alpha News. "Murder and violent crime are on the rise in Minneapolis, and their 'top cop' calls a common sense safety initiative xenophobic."
"This is what happens when you let activist prosecutors take over," added Emmer. "Voters should remember [Moriarty's] complete betrayal of public safety and common sense when they head to the polls next November." <_o3a_p>
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