Contact Congress about S. 5: Laken Riley Act
Federal officials must hold certain noncitizens tied to theft, police assault, or crimes causing serious harm. States can sue federal officials over immigration detention, release, parole, removal, and visa decisions if they claim more than $100 in harm.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Laken Riley Act is a Senate bill signed into law. The latest recorded action: Became Public Law No: 119-1.
Latest action on S. 5: Became Public Law No: 119-1.
Who this affects: This law mainly affects noncitizens who face listed immigration bars and are tied to the listed crimes. It also affects state attorneys general, federal immigration officials, courts, and local law enforcement agencies that may hold people before federal custody begins.
Why this matters: This law changes when some noncitizens can be released while their immigration cases move forward. It may lead to more people being held in immigration custody before any criminal conviction. It also gives states more power to challenge federal immigration choices in court. The full effect depends on how often states sue and how courts apply the law.
Key provisions in S. 5
- Federal officials must detain certain noncitizens tied to listed crimes. The rule covers people who meet listed immigration bars and are charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admit conduct involving burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault on a law enforcement officer, or a crime causing death or serious injury.
- The Homeland Security Secretary must issue an immigration detainer for this new group. A detainer asks another jail or agency to hold the person for immigration custody, and the Secretary must take custody quickly if the person is not already detained.
- The listed crimes use the meanings from the place where the acts happened. The law does not create one new federal definition for burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault on a law enforcement officer, or serious bodily injury.
- State attorneys general, or other state officers allowed by state law, can sue the Homeland Security Secretary over some border cases. They can sue if they claim federal officials failed to meet detention or removal duties for certain people applying to enter the United States.
- States can sue over some decisions to release noncitizens from immigration custody. The lawsuit may target the Attorney General or Homeland Security Secretary over release, bond, or parole decisions when the state claims harm.
How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 5
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about S. 5
- What is S. 5?
- Federal officials must hold certain noncitizens tied to theft, police assault, or crimes causing serious harm. States can sue federal officials over immigration detention, release, parole, removal, and visa decisions if they claim more than $100 in harm.
- How do I support or oppose S. 5?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about S. 5?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain S. 5 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
