The Venezuelan immigrant charged with killing 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley last month “might not be here” if the border had been secured, his father said Monday.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his daughter’s death, Jason Riley spoke to NBC’s “Today” in an interview that sparked a debate about the current border crisis plaguing Biden. After being asked if he thought stronger immigration policies would have made a difference, he was asked if he thought stronger immigration policies would have made a difference.
“I don’t know if that’s going to change anything, but he’s in the country illegally,” Jason Riley said. “If the border was secure, he might not be here.”
Jose Ibarra, 26, an illegal Venezuelan immigrant charged with Riley’s murder, entered the United States via El Paso, Texas, in 2022 and was released on parole at the border. Although he initially lived in New York City, he was arrested for child endangerment before moving to Athens, Georgia.
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Jose Ibarra was arrested on February 23rd in connection with the February 22nd murder of Laken Riley in Athens, Georgia. (Clark County Sheriff’s Office)
Ybarra is charged with malicious murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, interfering with a 911 call and concealing the death of another person in connection with Riley’s murder.
Ybarra lived with his two brothers in an apartment complex near the University of Georgia campus, about a five-minute walk from the approximate scene of the killing of the 22-year-old Ybarra. The two brothers of the murder suspect, Diego Ibarra (29) and Argenis Ibarra (24), were also in the country illegally.
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Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was found dead on the UGA campus on February 22 after her roommate alerted authorities that she had not returned home from her morning run.
Laken Riley poses for a photo to post on Facebook. Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was found dead near a lake on campus on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Alison Phillips/Facebook)
Earlier this month, Riley’s mother, Alison Phillips, called President Biden “pathetic” after he mispronounced her daughter’s name during his State of the Union address. The president appeared to refer to the 22-year-old as “Lincoln” rather than “Raeken” during his speech.
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“Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman killed by illegal aliens. That’s true. But how many thousands are killed by legal immigrants?” The president, Republican Marjorie Taylor of Georgia. -Congressman Greene made off-script remarks after yelling at Biden, “Say your name!” He was discussing the border crisis.
Her father told the outlet that he felt his daughter was being “somewhat politicized.”
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“It makes me angry,” Jason Riley said. “She was much better than that. She should be raised as the person she is.”
FOX News’ Audrey Conklin and Bree Stimson contributed to this report.
