The Clark County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement Thursday acknowledging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s policy of denying detention requests to undocumented immigrants “could be improved.”
Sheriff John Williams had made it part of his campaign not to cooperate with ICE detainees, but after the death of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley on February 22nd, the sheriff’s office The statement was issued in response to criticism of the department’s policies. A 22-year-old man was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in Athens.
“In 2018, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office reviewed and updated its policy regarding aliens incarcerated in its jails. ,” Williams’ office said in a statement. “After comprehensively evaluating the situation at the time, we have changed our policy to refusing requests from customers.” [ICE] Detaining a prisoner without a judge’s signature (called a “detainer”). ”
The law requires the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to “notify ICE” whenever authorities “book a person known or suspected to be an alien.” says the statement.
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Clark County Sheriff John Williams has waged a campaign against cooperating with ICE detainees. (Clark County Sheriff’s Office)
“Our policy reflects that. ICE detention is a request, not a court order or warrant. Detaining a person based solely on ICE custody constitutes a warrantless arrest. Our policy reflects that. “We authorize detention when a warrant or court order signed by a public official is issued,” the statement continued. “If ICE is able to apprehend illegal aliens before they could otherwise be bonded or legally released, the Sheriff’s Office will not prevent them from doing so.”Sheriff Williams takes office in 2021 When we did, we maintained this policy. “
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The Clark County Sheriff’s Office also said Riley’s murder suspect, Jose Antonio Ybarra, 26, was in custody in Clark County “at no time” prior to his Feb. 23 arrest. Stated. Additionally, because the sheriff’s office is “not a full-service law enforcement agency,” under county law, the sheriff’s office “generally does not perform duties such as responding to 911 calls or conducting routine patrols.” There is.
University of Georgia murder suspect Jose Ybarra lived within a five-minute walk of the scene where he allegedly killed 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley on February 22nd. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital/Laken Riley/Jose Ibarra)
Riley’s murder “raised attention to several record-keeping practices that can be improved to aid in identification and tracking.” [the sheriff’s] “We require that we respond to any interaction with a subject determined to be undocumented,” the statement continued. “The risks involved are paramount. As a result, we are strengthening our policies. , we continue to work to comply with all local, state, and federal laws.”
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The sheriff’s office also expressed its condolences to Riley’s family for their “deep loss” and said, “No one should have a promising life cut short at the hands of another person.”
Diego Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, allegedly gave police a fake green card in the search for his brother Jose, who is accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. (Clark County Sheriff’s Office)
Jose Ibarra had been arrested in New York City for child endangerment before moving to Athens, Georgia. He and his brother Diego Ibarra, 28, were also charged with shoplifting in Athens.
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Diego Ibarra has since been charged with green card fraud for allegedly showing false documents to police when they arrived at his apartment to question his brother in connection with Riley’s murder. Diego Ibarra was also arrested for drunk driving in Athens in September 2023, and was charged in April 2023 in Texas for allegedly trying to bite a Border Patrol agent.
Diego Ybarra appears in federal court on immigration charges on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. He is the brother of Jose Ibarra, the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley in Athens, Georgia, last month. (Lucy Lukovic)
Court documents released Wednesday revealed that Diego Ibarra has ties to Torren de Aragua, a violent organized crime organization based in Venezuela. Federal authorities say the gang, also known as TdA, has become known for violent turf wars as it expands into other countries in Latin America. The gang is trying to establish itself in the United States, but police have already linked it to organized crime.
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Images taken from federal court filings include a photo of Diego Ibarra’s alleged fake green card and what prosecutors say is evidence of his alleged ties to the Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua. It is included. (Central District of Georgia)
Diego appeared in court Thursday for his first appearance in connection with green card fraud charges brought against him, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Weigle ruled against the murder suspect’s brother in the case. He was ordered to remain in federal custody for a period of time.
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Weigl granted a motion by federal prosecutors to detain Diego Ibarra, who will remain in the custody of federal marshals while his case is prosecuted. Diego Ibarra waived his preliminary hearing and went straight to a bail hearing Thursday in federal court.
Federal prosecutors say Torren de Aragua members often wear Chicago Bulls clothing, even if they have no ties to Chicago and are not fans of the team. Investigators found the photo among images of suspected gang member Diego Ibarra wearing Chicago Bulls apparel. (Central District of Georgia)
Weigl cited several factors that led to his decision, including the fact that Diego had his ankle monitor disconnected after he was released from U.S. immigration custody and was later able to obtain or submit false documents. I mentioned it. The judge said he was concerned that Mr. Diego would move and obtain or produce further fraudulent documents.
Weigl also noted that Diego failed to appear at his asylum hearing in New York and his drunk driving charge hearing in Athens.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison also cited Diego’s alleged gang involvement as a reason to take the suspect into custody.
Diego Ybarra appears in federal court on immigration charges on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. He is the brother of Jose Ibarra, the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley in Athens, Georgia, last month. (Lucy Lukovic)
Federal defender Chauntilia Adaway argued that Diego Ibarra is not a flight risk because he is seeking asylum in the United States. He also said the court heard no evidence that Diego committed any violent or gang-related activities. Adaway also noted that the suspect has not been charged with the alleged attack on the Border Patrol agent.
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“If convicted, Mr. Ybarra could face up to 10 years in prison,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia said in a statement. “Based on the evidence that he poses a risk, we ordered that Mr. Ybarra be detained pending trial.” Thursday’s statement.
