Chicago City Wire

Northside Republicans President Brian Kasal criticized Congressman Mike Quigley and eleven other Illinois congressmen for voting against the Laken Riley Act, accusing them of prioritizing their political agenda over public safety. Kasal made this statement to Chicago City Wire on January 29.

"Mike Quigley (IL-05) and the eleven other Illinois congressmen who voted against the Laken Riley Act have shown a stunning lack of accountability," said Kasal. "Quigley's vote reveals he cares more about promoting a political agenda than defending innocent citizens from harm. Rather than prioritizing meaningful action to keep communities safe, Quigley abandoned his duty to serve the public. Quigley's shameful decision exposes his loyalty to ideology over lives, leaving vulnerable people unprotected."

According to CNN, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support, including 48 Democrats. However, 12 Democratic representatives from Illinois voted against it. The act mandates the detention of undocumented migrants charged with theft or burglary and is named after a Georgia student killed by an undocumented migrant in 2024.

Fox News reported that the House approved the Laken Riley Act as the first bill of the 119th Congress with a vote of 264-159. The legislation requires federal detention for undocumented individuals convicted of theft-related crimes and permits states to sue the federal government over damages caused by illegal immigration. Jose Ibarra, convicted of murdering Laken Riley, had previous arrests but was not detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise highlighted the bill's accountability measures for Biden administration border policies. The bill now proceeds to the Senate.

The Heritage Foundation noted that since President Joe Biden took office, over 6.2 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at U.S. borders, with 2 million released into the country. Many had prior criminal convictions, including assault and murder, while over 1.5 million "gotaways" remain untracked. A Department of Justice report from 2021 found that in 2018, noncitizens accounted for 64% of federal arrests despite comprising only 7% of the population. Incidents such as rising immigrant deaths underscore safety concerns exacerbated by lenient border policies and sanctuary cities hindering criminal deportations.

Kasal, a resident of Chicago's 43rd Ward, was appointed Northside Republican Organization President and Committeeman in 2021 and re-elected as Ward Committeeman in June 2022. As Committeeman and President, he focuses on increasing Republican voter turnout, expanding party membership, and communicating party positions on issues relevant to voters in the 43rd Ward and Northside Chicago.