ALBAWABA- US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the establishment of a new detention center at Guantanamo Bay to house up to 30,000 migrants living illegally in the United States.
The decision came just before signing the Laken Riley Act into law, marking the first legislative victory of his administration.
The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention and possible deportation of individuals in the US illegally who are accused of theft or violent crimes, even before they are convicted.
The measure swiftly passed the new Republican-controlled Congress with bipartisan support, though it has faced criticism from immigrant rights groups who warn it could lead to the mass detention of individuals for minor offenses.
Trump, who campaigned heavily on a crackdown against illegal immigration, hailed the law as a major step in his administration's efforts to tackle crime linked to illegal immigration. "This legislation is just the beginning. It paves the way for further enforcement bills to restore the rule of law," he told House Republicans at a conference in Florida.
The law is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia, who was tragically killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national living illegally in the US. Ibarra, who was sentenced to life in prison, was found guilty in November.
While conservatives view the law as a critical step in reducing crime, critics argue that it could lead to widespread chaos and inhumane treatment of immigrants, without addressing the underlying issues in the immigration system.
