Source: Common Dreams
by Neha Desai & Melissa Adamson
“U.S. President Donald Trump is about to sign legislation so sweeping and reckless that it could force a kindergartener merely charged with stealing a lollipop into indefinite detention at a federal immigration facility. With bipartisan support, lawmakers have pushed through the Laken Riley Act, which expands the categories of offenses that require mandatory federal immigration detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to include minor theft-related crimes, such as shoplifting, without exempting children. This bill doesn’t even require a child to be charged or convicted of a crime before being indefinitely imprisoned. It has no minimum age limit, so anyone old enough to commit shoplifting or other property crimes would be treated the same as adults under this bill.” [editor’s note: These screeching harpies have no grasp on reality – SAT] [additional editor’s note: Aw, Steve … I wouldn’t call you a “screeching harpie” – TLK] (01/29/25)