President Trump to Enact Laken Riley Act, Authorizing Pre-Conviction Detention and Deportation for Non-Citizen Criminal Suspects

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to enact the Laken Riley Act, marking his administration’s inaugural legislative venture. This new law, slated for signature later today, mandates the detention and potential deportation of undocumented individuals accused of theft and violent crimes prior to any court conviction. The law, named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was tragically killed in February 2024, swiftly moved through a Republican-majority Congress with some bipartisan support. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national residing illegally in the U.S., was convicted of her murder and sentenced to … Read more

Judge Approves Settlement in ACLU Lawsuit to Protect Noncitizen Spouses During Citizenship Process

Boston, MA — A Massachusetts judge has recently given the green light to a significant legal settlement related to a high-profile immigration lawsuit initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. This decision marks a pivotal moment for many noncitizen spouses embroiled in the U.S. immigration system. At the heart of the lawsuit was Lilian Calderon, a Rhode Island woman originally from Guatemala, brought to the U.S. at the tender age of three. Her case gained national attention when, in 2018, she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a marriage interview—a … Read more