Republican lawmakers called for President Joe Biden to shut down the southern border after an illegal immigrant was arrested for the murder of a 22-year-old nursing student, according to reports.
Venezuelan Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested on Friday for the murder of Laken Hope Riley, a student at the University of Georgia. Ibarra illegally crossed into the United States through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 before being released due to lack of detention space, according to Department of Homeland Security sources who spoke with NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley.
Riley was found dead on Thursday after going out on a jog in a wooded area on the University of Georgia campus. Blunt force trauma was the reported cause of death.
Ibarra was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another. According to Bradley, Ibarra was also recently arrested in New York five months ago for charges related to injury to a child.
Local police have not yet confirmed Ibarra’s immigration status, but did arrest Ibarra’s 29-year-old brother Diego with green card fraud after he was questioned by police in relation to the murder of Riley.
In response to the report, lawmakers called for Biden to secure the border and for his administration to face consequences for the lax border policies they have implemented. Biden has record numbers of illegal crossings as millions of foreign nationals have been released into the United States.
“The blood of Laken Riley is on the hands of Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the government of Athens-Clarke County,” Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) said. “This man had no business being in America, much less the UGA community to brutally murder this young American while she was on a run.”
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“To put this in simpler terms: if this border was secure, and Athens not a sanctuary city, Laken Riley would be alive,” he added. “She would still be talking to her family, hanging out with friends, studying to be a nurse, and working toward serving her community and saving the lives of others. Instead, she is dead because the people who took an oath to preserve our Constitution and faithfully execute our laws refuse to do so because they think it benefits them politically.”
The blood of Laken Riley is on the hands of Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, and the government of Athens-Clarke County.
The Venezuelan suspect in Laken Riley’s murder is one of millions of illegal aliens that the Biden administration has released into this country to be welcomed…
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) February 24, 2024
“An illegal immigrant released by the Biden admin brutally murdered a young college student in Georgia,” Rep. Jim Banks said (R-IN). “How many more Americans have to die before Joe Biden will secure the border?”
An illegal immigrant released by the Biden admin brutally murdered a young college student in Georgia.
How many more Americans have to die before Joe Biden will secure the border?
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) February 24, 2024
“Enraging. He shouldn’t have been in our country. And now an innocent American is dead,” Sen. J.D. Vance said.
Enraging. He shouldn’t have been in our country. And now an innocent American is dead. https://t.co/971l9s2kLC
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 24, 2024
“Another senseless tragedy that could have been prevented if the Biden administration had enforced the law. They released this murderer.He should’ve been DEPORTED,” Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) said.
Another senseless tragedy that could have been prevented if the Biden administration had enforced the law.
They released this murderer.
He should’ve been DEPORTED. https://t.co/qELe2Odgne
— Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) February 24, 2024
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) called for the Senate to remove Mayorkas from office. Earlier this month, Mayorkas was impeached by the House over his handling of the border. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has not yet scheduled a trial for Mayorkas.