Cynthia Lummis: “I rise today in support of the Laken Riley Act. Nearly a year ago, Laken Riley--a college girl more than 1,000 miles…”

“I rise today in support of the Laken Riley Act. Nearly a year ago, Laken Riley--a college girl more than 1,000 miles from our southern border--was jogging on her university's intramural fields. Also more than 1,000 miles from our southern border, an illegal criminal in our country brutally attacked and murdered her in broad daylight. For 18 minutes, Laken Riley--that young woman in the prime of her life, with boundless potential--fought for her life against an assailant who never should have been in this country to begin with. The Biden administration's open border policies served the criminal's depravity more than Laken's and her family's. In fact, they served the criminal every bit as much as they failed Laken and her family. Laken's killer easily crossed our southern border with millions of others; and when he committed several crimes and was arrested, a Biden administration-led ICE made no effort to deport him. Had he been appropriately prosecuted for his previous crimes, the Riley family would have celebrated Riley's birthday instead of mourning an empty chair. On February 22, 2024, it would have been an ordinary day for their family instead of the worst day of their lives. No family should face the nightmare Laken's family endured, and it is our responsibility as lawmakers to correct the glaring failures in our system that led to her tragic and preventable death.…”