The Laken Riley Act is a proposed bill aimed at strengthening the enforcement of federal immigration laws in Alabama by allowing state and local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with federal entities like the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. The bill introduces new legal language by designating Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-35 as Article 1 and adding Article 2, starting with Section 31-13-50, to Chapter 13 of Title 31 of the Code of Alabama 1975. Key provisions include granting law enforcement officers the authority to arrest suspected illegal aliens, requiring jails to comply with immigration detainer requests under specific conditions, and establishing procedures for the intake and booking of illegal aliens and foreign nationals.

Additionally, the bill mandates that county and municipal jails make reasonable efforts to ascertain the lawful status of individuals in their custody, including contacting the Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) or ICE when necessary. It requires jails to inform inmates subject to immigration detainers about their status unless they can prove U.S. citizenship, and it outlines reporting requirements for jails to prepare quarterly reports on inmate bookings and immigration detainers. These reports must be publicly accessible on jail websites and submitted annually to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency. The bill also clarifies that it does not limit rights established by the Alabama or U.S. Constitutions, with an effective date set for June 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 31-13-50, 31-13-1, 31-13-35
Engrossed: 31-13-50, 31-13-1, 31-13-35