North Cook News

Mark Albers, committeeman for the Niles Township Republican Organization, expressed criticism towards Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) for her vote against the Laken Riley Act. Albers said to North Cook News on January 9 that Schakowsky's decision prioritized political interests over public safety.

"Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and the eleven other Illinois Democrat members of congress who voted against the Laken Riley Act should be utterly ashamed of themselves," said Albers. "Schakowsky's decision proves that she cares more about chasing an agenda than protecting innocent citizens from dangerous criminals. Instead of taking meaningful action to safeguard communities, Schakowsky turned her back on the very people she was elected to serve. This vote is a disgraceful betrayal of public trust and a clear sign that Jan Schakowsky values empty ideology over the safety of those who need protection most."

Albers, a resident of Morton Grove, Illinois, was appointed as committeeman in July 2024. His responsibilities include increasing Republican voter turnout and expanding party membership within Niles Township.

According to CNN, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support, including votes from 48 Democrats. However, twelve Democratic representatives from Illinois opposed the bill. The legislation mandates detention for 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 act by a 264-159 vote. The bill requires federal detention of 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 Riley’s murder, had previous arrests but was not detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasized that the bill holds the Biden administration accountable for its border policies. The legislation now awaits consideration in the Senate.

The Heritage Foundation highlighted concerns about border security since President Biden assumed office. Over 6.2 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at U.S. borders, with approximately 2 million released into the country. Many had prior criminal convictions, including assault and murder charges. Additionally, more than 1.5 million "gotaways" remain untracked. A Department of Justice report from 2021 indicated that noncitizens accounted for 64% of federal arrests in 2018 despite comprising only 7% of the population. Rising immigrant deaths and incidents underscore safety issues linked to lenient border policies and sanctuary cities impeding deportations.