Trump Addresses Laken Riley Murder During News Conference At Border, Says He Spoke With Her ‘Devastated’ Parents

Former President Donald Trump spoke at a news conference in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thursday and addressed the brutal murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, saying he spoke with Riley’s parents, who “are devastated beyond belief.”

Riley, 22, was killed last week allegedly by 26-year-old Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who is accused of attacking Riley while she was on a run, “disfiguring her skull” and dragging her body to a secluded area. Trump called Riley a “great” and “beautiful” person “in so many ways” and slammed President Joe Biden for failing to address the nursing student’s murder.

“The monster that’s charged in the death is an illegal alien migrant who was let into our country and released into our communities by crooked Joe Biden,” Trump said, adding, “What [Biden] is doing is just unbelievable. Joe Biden will never say Laken Riley’s name, but we will say it, and we will remember it.”

“Joe Biden will never say Laken Riley’s name. But we will say it. And we will remember it.” – President Trump

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— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) February 29, 2024

Both Trump and Biden are visiting the southern border on Thursday as the U.S. continues to face record numbers of illegal immigrants crossing into the country. While Trump visited the heavily trafficked Eagle Pass section of the southern border, Biden traveled to Brownsville, Texas, an area of the border that has seen fewer illegal crossings in recent weeks.

The border crisis has remained at the center of attention in the 2024 presidential election cycle as Riley’s murder and numerous other horrific crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants have dominated headlines in recent weeks. Earlier this month, ICE arrested 275 convicted sex predators who were illegal immigrants, and The Daily Wire reported on Thursday that an illegal immigrant was arrested in Utah for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl.

The man accused of killing Riley was held by Border Patrol on September 8, 2022, after illegally entering the United States near El Paso, Texas, but was released for further processing, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Ibarra was then arrested by New York police in August 2023 and charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17, according to ICE.

Riley’s family released a statement after her death, saying she “was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general.”

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“Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life. She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way,” the statement continued. “During this most difficult time, we ask that you respect our privacy, and provide us the time and space necessary to grieve our daughter’s life that was tragically cut short.”

Hank Berrien contributed to this report.