Commonwealth Attorney Opposes Laken Riley Act – It’s Neither Safety Nor Justice

ARLINGTON, VA: The federal government already has the power to exercise discretion to detain people accused of crimes – requiring federal detention for immigrants accused of even minor crimes, like single-digit dollar value theft, expands the trust gap between communities and law enforcement, which ultimately results in less community safety. This act will make victims less willing to report serious crimes, including domestic violence; it will make solving crime more difficult because witnesses will be less willing to come forward; and it incentivises false accusations of crimes by abusers, unscrupulous employers, and others. The criminal process must be allowed to resolve itself without interference from the federal government: prosecution of crimes is necessary to public safety, and if defendants are detained by ICE and deported, that leaves the community and victims without closure. The Laken Riley Act is not merely performative (which it is), it is counter productive and dangerous.

I urge Senator Schumer to insist on a vote on Senator Kaine's amendment, as that amendment at least tries to solve some of the most glaring problems with the bill. But anything short of the Kaine amendment should be voted down by Democrats. We need to stand together -- and we need to stand strongly -- in favor of safety and justice. The Laken Riley Act accomplishes neither.

Commonwealth's Attorney's Office

Cwa_info@arlingtonva.us
703-228-4410