Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) delivered a passionate speech on the House floor Wednesday, condemning the Laken Riley Act, a bill advancing in Congress with strong Republican backing and support from a small number of Democrats. The legislation mandates the detention of immigrants for certain theft-related offenses, sparking heated debate.
In her address, Ocasio-Cortez criticized the bill for prioritizing private prison profits over justice. “I want folks at home to look at what members of Congress are invested in private prison companies, and look at the votes on this bill,” she said. “It is atrocious that people are lining their pockets with private prison profits in the name of a horrific tragedy and the victim of a crime. It is shameful. It is absolutely shameful.”
She further warned of the bill’s consequences, predicting regret from lawmakers who supported it. “In a few months, there are members of Congress who voted for this bill who are going to pretend they didn’t know about all the bad things that were going to happen because of it. So when a private prison camp opens in your town—”
As her time expired, Ocasio-Cortez was asked to yield, but Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) quickly intervened, saying, “I yield the gentlelady an additional 30 seconds.” Ocasio-Cortez used the extra time to drive home her point. “When a private prison camp opens in your town, and they say, ‘We didn’t know this was going to happen,’ know that they did,” she concluded.
The exchange drew praise online, with Slate writer Sam Adams noting, “The speed with which AOC’s colleague jumps up to yield her an extra 30 seconds so she can land her closer: teamwork.” The Laken Riley Act, named after a young woman believed to have been murdered by an unauthorized migrant in Georgia, has faced criticism from legal experts.
Critics argue it undermines due process, empowers state attorneys general and lower court judges to override federal decisions on detainee releases, and grants them the authority to impose travel bans on foreign nations.
Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have expressed uncertainty about whether they have the resources to implement the bill’s detention requirements. Despite this, Republican lawmakers have assured that funding will be provided.
Ocasio-Cortez’s fiery speech highlighted concerns over the broader implications of the legislation, as debate continues over its potential impact on immigration and justice in the United States.