Eric Gisler, a candidate for Georgia State House District 121, expressed opposition to the Laken Riley Act, describing it as a violation of due process. The Act, which requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal aliens arrested for crimes, passed with bipartisan support. Gisler’s statement was made on Facebook.
“When they passed that god-awful Laken Riley Act that throws out due process,” said Eric Gissler, Former candidate, according to Facebook. “If you want to find some fraud, waste, and abuse you can look here in Georgia at Governor Kemp’s Pathways Program. Make it make sense. GOP equals hypocrisy.”
According to The Independent, the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley attracted national attention because her killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, had illegally entered the United States and possessed a criminal history. He had been released by local authorities in New York before an ICE detainer could be issued. Ibarra was later convicted of multiple counts of murder and other charges, receiving life without parole. This case intensified scrutiny over immigration enforcement gaps, with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp attributing Ibarra’s presence in the country to federal policy failures.
USA Today reported that the Laken Riley Act became the first law signed by President Donald Trump in his second term. It mandates ICE detention for illegal aliens arrested for crimes such as larceny or assault on a police officer. Supporters argue that Riley might still be alive if such measures had been implemented earlier. Although the Act mandates detention, detainees can still pursue Joseph hearings and habeas petitions to challenge custody. The law’s bipartisan support highlights concerns over repeat offenses by individuals unlawfully present in the U.S.
ICE focuses its efforts on noncitizens who pose threats to national security or public safety, targeting those with criminal records including violent offenses. The Laken Riley Act expands mandatory detention for certain noncitizens arrested or charged with specific crimes while allowing individuals to seek legal recourse through Joseph hearings and habeas relief.
Gisler is a Democratic candidate for Georgia House District 121 and has lived in Atlanta since 2003. He earned his degree from the University of Georgia in Athens and works in financial services technology as Head of Product at an insurance technology startup. Additionally, he owns a local shop selling olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Gisler describes himself as a collaborative leader focused on healthcare access, public education affordability, election integrity, and “personal freedoms” for working families in Georgia.
