Atlanta, Georgia – In a briefing by University of Georgia Police Chief Jeffrey Clark on Friday, it was revealed that the suspect in Laken Riley’s murder was not a U.S. citizen. This news led to swift criticism from Georgia politicians regarding federal immigration policies.
Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican from Athens, strongly asserted that Riley’s death was directly linked to President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Collins placed blame on the Biden administration for releasing millions of illegal aliens, including the suspect, into the country, leading to tragic incidents like Riley’s murder.
The murder, classified as a crime of opportunity by UGA police, involved suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra, an undocumented migrant from Venezuela, and the victim, Laken Riley, who did not know each other. Politicians like Georgia Sen. President Pro Tem John Kennedy criticized Athens’ sanctuary city status, arguing that such policies encourage criminals and endanger the public while also burdening taxpayers.
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia joined the chorus of criticism against the president’s immigration policies following Riley’s death, calling for answers and information from the Biden Administration to bolster citizen protection in the wake of federal inaction.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana amplified the calls for border security, urging President Biden to take decisive action by using existing statutory authority to close the border. In contrast, Democrats pushed back on linking border security to Riley’s tragic death, emphasizing the need to allow space for the family to grieve without politicizing the issue.
Further information disclosed by law enforcement confirmed that both Jose and Diego Ibarra were in the U.S. as undocumented immigrants from Venezuela. Diego Ibarra, processed for expedited removal but released pending adjudication of his asylum claim, was arrested for presenting a fake permanent resident card to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
The case brought attention to the ongoing debate over immigration policies, with Republicans and Democrats at odds over the best approach to border security and handling undocumented immigrants in the country. In the midst of the tragedy, the need for clarity and action in immigration policy remains a pressing issue for lawmakers.