Lakin Riley Act needs major changes

As a longtime English language teacher of adult learners and SE Minnesota resident, I’m dismayed that the flawed Laken Riley Act has advanced in the House and Senate at a fast pace. This act requires the mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants charged with such nonviolent crimes as shoplifting. With its overly vague definitions of theft and burglary, it raises serious concerns about due process.
Like others, I want to live in a safe community, but requiring the indefinite incarceration of ANYONE — merely on the basis of an accusation — smacks of practices carried out by strong arm regimes we rightly abhor. In addition, many legal experts believe that passage and enforcement of this bill as it stands would be a serious waste of law enforcement resources. At the very least, the bill needs a serious overhaul. It can easily be reintroduced at a later date, incorporating changes such as those introduced by Senator Tim Kaine and others. For example, it should disallow the incarceration of children ages 0-16 and require a custody hearing before an immigration judge for anyone detained for more than three months.
I urge constituents to become informed about the bill before its passage opens the door to further demonization of immigrants by the incoming administration. Please call on Congressman Brad Finstad and Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar to either make several much-needed, common sense changes — or scrap the bill altogether.
 
Colleen Crossely
Mantorville