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Relatives of a slain nursing student are commemorating her legacy while certain Republican politicians attempt to link her passing to President Joe Biden’s immigration measures.
22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who attended Augusta University College of Nursing, tragically passed away on February 22 while out for a run on the University of Georgia campus. Her family has released a statement to honor her memory in the days following her death.
The family expresses their gratitude to the community for their prayers and support during this heartbreaking period. They remember Laken as an exceptional daughter, sister, friend, and individual. Her strong faith in God was evident in everything she did. Though she will be greatly missed, the family vows to continue honoring her memory in a significant way.
The family of Ms. Riley has started a memorial GoFundMe.
“Amidst this challenging period, we kindly request for our privacy to be respected as we mourn the loss of our daughter whose life was tragically taken away,” the statement further stated.
A suspect, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, is currently in police custody. He is facing charges of malice murder, felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and other offenses in connection with the death of Ms. Riley.
The body of Laken Hope Riley was discovered deceased on the grounds of the University of Georgia.
According to University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark, Mr. Ibarra does not have a significant criminal record and there is no indication that he was acquainted with Ms. Riley prior to this incident. In 2022, Mr. Ibarra immigrated from Venezuela to the United States, but was detained by border patrol agents at the El Paso, Texas border before being granted temporary entry.
On Saturday, he was brought to court and faced charges of felony murder and kidnapping. He was ordered to be held without bail.
Jose Antonio Ibarra has been accused in relation to the killing of Laken Riley.
The sheriff’s office in Clarke County.
According to CNN, Mr. Ibarra’s sibling was also arrested on Friday for having a fake green card.
Georgia’s Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, urged President Biden to address the issue of immigration following the news of Mr. Ibarra’s migration.
“For over 24 months, we have been calling for measures to protect our southern border and seeking clarification from the White House regarding the individuals entering our nation,” stated Mr Kemp on X. “We have not received any response nor seen any action taken, and now a devastating event has occurred. It is imperative that we receive answers and prompt action from Joe Biden and the White House IMMEDIATELY.”
According to the Associated Press, Mr Kemp has been a strong supporter of more stringent immigration regulations and has been in opposition to Mr Biden. In the previous year, the Republican made a promise to assist Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his endeavors to restrict border crossings between the US and Mexico.
The tragedy was also seized upon by Mike Johnson, a vocal critic of Mr Biden and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, as an opportunity to address immigration policy.
“The heartless killer responsible for Laken’s death was among the numerous undocumented immigrants that the Biden Administration released into our country without proper vetting,” stated Mr. Johnson, a member of the Republican party, in a post on X. “In honor of Laken and the countless others affected by this crisis at the border, House Republicans will persist in their efforts to restore law and order.”
Many people believe that immigrants in the US are more prone to committing crimes, but a recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 57 percent of Americans think that the high number of migrants trying to enter the country actually results in an increase in crime.
There is no proof that individuals who move to the US, even those without legal documentation, have a higher crime rate than those who were born in the country. In fact, a 2020 study, widely recognized and reviewed by peers, found that from 2012 to 2018, undocumented migrants in Texas were less than half as likely to commit violent crimes as those born in the US.
In the meantime, Mr. Johnson has focused on implementing more stringent immigration policies during his tenure as House Speaker.
In the beginning of this year, a group of three American Senators introduced a joint decision to limit immigration and provide extra support for border security in return for assistance to Ukraine and Israel.
Subsequently, the leaders of the US House Republican party, namely Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, and Elise Stefanik, released a collective statement declaring that the bill would not be considered.
According to Mr. Johnson’s statement to reporters, the current legislation presented is not focused on border security, but rather on immigration.
Source: independent.co.uk
