Local immigration advocates protest Laken Riley Act

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Congressman Vicente Gonzalez's support of the Laken Riley Act caused controversy as several immigration advocates protested his decision.

Officials with La Union Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) and The Sidewalk School, a nonprofit organization fighting for the safety of asylum seekers, stood outside Gonzalez's district office in Brownsville. They delivered a letter to one of his representatives showing their disapproval of his decision.

Gonzalez was among nearly 50 democrats who voted to pass the Laken Riley Act on Tuesday. The bill was pushed forward with a bipartisan vote of 84 to 9.

The legislation is named after a Georgia woman who was killed last year by a Venezuelan citizen living in the U.S. illegally. Jose Ibarra was charged with the murder of Laken Riley in November. He had previously been arrested for shoplifting.

The bill would give immigration officials the power to detain undocumented immigrants who have been charged with theft-related crimes such as burglary, larceny, theft or shoplifting. It would also allow state attorneys to sue the Department of Homeland Security.

Protestors said Gonzalez's support will endanger the community he represents.

"He voted in favor of it and in doing so he voted against his community, against immigrants, against mixed-status family households and we know that all these people make up the majority of his constituents," Portia Lopez, the director of communications for Lupe, said.

Immigration Attorney Karla Vargas said this bill could set a dangerous precedent and threaten the civil rights of immigrants.

"Under this bill, both recent arrivals and longstanding members of our community will be targeted," Vargas said. "The right to due process, the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment and to be free from prolonged incarceration is at risk under this bill."

The bill is soon expected to go through a final vote in the Senate.

Lupe officials said they will continue to express their concerns with Gonzalez in the hopes that he will reconsider his stance on immigration laws.

"He more than anybody should know that our values here in the Valley are not those of painting our immigrant community as criminals and this bill is going to criminalize our immigrants that have minor offenses," Lupe Director of Community Organization Juaquin Garcia said. "Vicente Gonzalez should know better. So hopefully in the future, he reconsiders."