Jonathon Dennard, Jr.

Education: Majoring in Psychology and Sociology
Mentor: Alisa Garni, Ph.D.
Project: The Laken Riley Act and its Impacts on Immigrant Families and Intergovernmental Immigration Enforcement in the United States

My research examines the impact of the Laken Riley Act, a 2024 immigration law requiring federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of small crimes like theft, larceny, and more. It explores how this law affects immigrant families in the U.S. and how it shifts power between local, state, and federal governments when it comes to immigration policy. It also uses legal analysis, policy reviews, and a review of scholarship with experts and community leaders to understand how the law is being applied and experienced. I also examined official documents, court cases, news reports, and community data from cities with large immigrant populations. And with that, it helped me to understand how to read the interviews that were conducted by other scholars. Early insights suggest that the Act gives the federal government more control, limiting how much cities and states can protect undocumented immigrants. This shift has also intensified debates over intergovernmental relationships, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions where local policies conflict with federal mandates. The Act has sparked legal uncertainty, placing pressure on local officials and creating complex challenges in cooperative law enforcement. Families, especially those with mixed immigration status, are experiencing more fear, stress, and uncertainty. There are also rising legal concerns over people being detained just because they were arrested not convicted. This research aims to provide a clear picture of whether the Laken Riley Act helps immigrant communities or creates new problems for families and local governments. It will highlight how one law can reshape immigration policy, challenge intergovernmental cooperation, and fuel larger political and legal debates.