Former President Bill Clinton's suggestion that Georgia nursing student Laken Riley would still be alive had the border been secured was seen Monday as a disdain for the Biden-Harris administration.
Clinton campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia on Sunday, accusing former President Trump of intentionally sabotaging bipartisan border negotiations in an effort to make them a campaign issue. Mr. Clinton brought up Ms. Riley's story, saying that had the undocumented immigrant who allegedly killed her been “properly vetted,” Ms. Riley would not have been killed.
“When it comes to immigration issues, [Kamala’s] The only candidate who actually supported legislation that would limit immigration to a certain level and give people a decent place to live didn't separate people from their children. And we did thorough vetting before people joined. And Trump repealed the bill. The bill was authored by Senate Republican leaders, who killed it. Why?'' Clinton said.
Border issues were a major focus of former President Bill Clinton's speech in Columbus, Georgia, on Monday. (Getty Images)
“There was a case in Georgia a while ago, where they put out an ad about a young woman who was killed by an immigrant. Yeah, well, if everyone had been properly tested, maybe the case would have been solved. But if they were all properly tested, that wouldn't happen,” he added.
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Many X users derided Clinton's comments as careless propaganda for President Trump, and pointed out that Riley's death occurred under the Biden-Harris administration.
“The Harris campaign must be feeling guilty for dragging Bill into the campaign,” wrote Abigail Jackson, communications director for Sen. Josh Hawley.
FOX News contributor Guy Benson said, “He's gotten some credit for at least admitting that Riley was murdered, and that the Biden-Harris administration has confirmed that the suspect in Riley's murder, an illegal immigrant, It is correct that it was not properly scrutinized.”
Earlier this year, an illegal immigrant allegedly killed Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital/Laken Riley/Jose Ibarra)
Outkick's Clay Travis wrote, “Bill Clinton said Laken Riley would still be alive if Kamala and Biden had done their job and vetted border crossings.” Ta.
“Great case against voting for the tragic and deadly policies that Kamala Harris will no doubt continue. Thank you @BillClinton!” Twitchy's Doug Powers joked.
Donald Trump Jr. agreed: “Even Slick Willie knows Border Czar Kamala Harris is responsible for letting the illegal aliens who killed Laken Riley into our country!”
“Maybe it wasn't a good idea to let the 'big dog' off the leash,” said Philip Melanhisson Wegman, a White House reporter for RealClearPolitics.
“He said this while campaigning for her. Reemfao,” said digital strategist Greg Price.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Fox News Digital earlier this year that Jose Ybarra, the man accused of killing Laken Riley, was reviewed and released on parole in 2022. (Fox News Digital)
Murder suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra was found by Customs and Border Protection after illegally entering the country near El Paso, Texas, on September 8, 2022, and was “released on parole for further processing.” Riley was also arrested in New York City on August 31, 2023. Riley was killed on February 22nd.
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FOX News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
