The father of Laken Riley, the Augusta University nursing student who was murdered last month by an illegal immigrant, pleaded with the state Senate to pass legislation to ensure that no one has to suffer the way his daughter did.
Jason Riley stood before the Georgia Senate earlier this month urging lawmakers to protect citizens from the massive number of illegal immigrants that have bombarded the U.S.
“I stand before you, a heartbroken man,” Riley said. “Part of my purpose has been taken. God gave me a beautiful daughter to father, protect, provide for and nurture. A man with an evil heart stole her life. He was in this country and in this state illegally.”
Jason Riley, Laken Riley's father, stands with Sen. Colton Moore. He asked Governor Kemp to declare an illegal invasion and placed blame on Athens/Clark County's status as a sanctuary city for what happened to Laken.
This IS an invasion, and it's being intentionally orchestrated… pic.twitter.com/a2OyBI6B6D
— 𝘿𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙧 (@DonGP4037) March 22, 2024
“My vision for every senator in this chamber is that you protect citizens from this illegal invasion,” he continued. “Please recognize over a million illegal aliens are in this state and making families nervous.”
He then asked Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) to deport and detain any illegal immigrants convicted of crimes so that what happened to his daughter would not happen to anyone else.
“Governor Kemp, please declare an invasion to detain and deport criminal illegals so we can prevent future families from those tragedies,” Riley added. “Hundreds of women and children each month… are being smuggled, coerced, and trafficked in our state. They are victims, just like Laken. I thank you for honoring Laken in this way, and I humbly ask you to do more to protect us. She and my family mean the world to me.”
His comments came after the state Senate passed a resolution honoring his daughter’s memory.
Laken Riley, 22, was reported missing by her roommate last month when she did not return from her morning jog. Her body was found in a wooded area on the university’s campus on Feb. 22.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was arrested for her murder. The 26-year-old was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
The autopsy determined that Riley died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Ibarra, along with his two brothers, were living in an apartment complex in Athens, only a five-minute walk away from the area where Riley’s body was found.
He illegally entered the U.S. through the Texas border in 2022. Ibarra was supposed to be deported but was let go by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.
Ibarra is also linked to Tren de Aragua, a deadly gang from Venezuela.
After her death, Georgia signed the Laken Riley Act into law, which would give Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state governments more effective tools to combat crime committed by illegal immigrants.
On Monday, Riley also criticized politicians on both sides for using his daughter’s murder to further their agendas, which he said makes him “angry.” Republicans have mentioned Laken as an example of why illegal immigration needs to be addressed, while President Joe Biden mentioned her at the State of the Union in response to heckling from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), though he got her name wrong.
Ibarra is currently being held on no bond at the Athens-Clarke County Jail.
