U.S. immigration law linked to murder of Georgia college student

A few hours before U.S. President Joe Biden's speech today, February 25, the House of Representatives of Congress passed the Laken Riley Act, a bill named after a college student from Georgia whose murder conservatives link to the White House's emigration policy. There were 251 votes in favor of the bill, 170 against, with 37 Democrats voting with Republicans in favor of the legislation.

A few hours before U.S. President Joe Biden's speech today, February 25, the House of Representatives of Congress passed the Laken Riley Act, a bill named after a college student from Georgia whose murder conservatives link to the White House's emigration policy. There were 251 votes in favor of the bill, 170 against, with 37 Democrats voting with Republicans in favor of the legislation.

A 22-year-old student at Augusta University's Laken Riley College of Medicine was reported missing when she didn't return home after jogging on the University of Georgia campus. Local police found her body and shortly afterward arrested a 26-year-old man from Venezuela on charges of her murder, an immigrant who had previously been arrested in Georgia on theft charges. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 26-year-old Jose Ibarra allegedly entered the country illegally in 2022.

A 22-year-old student at Augusta University's Laken Riley College of Medicine was reported missing when she didn't return home after jogging on the University of Georgia campus. Local police found her body and shortly afterward arrested a 26-year-old man from Venezuela on charges of her murder, an immigrant who had previously been arrested in Georgia on theft charges. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 26-year-old Jose Ibarra allegedly entered the country illegally in 2022.

The nine-bill bill, H.R. 7511, is not likely to pass in the Senate, where Democrats have the most votes. The bill calls for mandatory detention of immigrants charged with theft, burglary or shoplifting in local jurisdictions. It also gives states the right to bring civil suits against the federal government for "failure to enforce immigration law," House Government Affairs Chairman Tom Cole (Republican) said while processing the bill Tuesday.

The nine-bill bill, H.R. 7511, is not likely to pass in the Senate, where Democrats have the most votes. The bill calls for mandatory detention of immigrants charged with theft, burglary or shoplifting in local jurisdictions. It also gives states the right to bring civil suits against the federal government for "failure to enforce immigration law," House Government Affairs Chairman Tom Cole (Republican) said while processing the bill Tuesday.

In the wake of Riley's death, Georgia lawmakers are reportedly proposing legislation to penalize law enforcement agencies that fail to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE of the apprehension of an illegal immigrant who is in the U.S. without authorization. Mike Collins, a Republican from Jackson, Georgia, wrote on atlantapublicservice.com that he invited Riley's parents to the presidential State of the Union address, but they "chose to stay home, grieving the loss of their daughter". "Therefore, the seat reserved for my guests will remain empty as a tribute to Laken and all American victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens," he said.

In the wake of Riley's death, Georgia lawmakers are reportedly proposing legislation to penalize law enforcement agencies that fail to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE of the apprehension of an illegal immigrant who is in the U.S. without authorization. Mike Collins, a Republican from Jackson, Georgia, wrote on atlantapublicservice.com that he invited Riley's parents to the presidential State of the Union address, but they "chose to stay home, grieving the loss of their daughter".

"Therefore, the seat reserved for my guests will remain empty as a tribute to Laken and all American victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens," he said.

Raising the bill in the House plenary Thursday, House Legal Policy Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler of New York accused Republicans of "exploiting death" and "demonizing immigrants." Republicans like North Carolina's Dan Bishop argue the bill is needed to prevent "more victims of the flood of illegal immigrants caused by the crisis at the border." "Allowing this criminal to roam freely in our communities is absolutely unacceptable," Rick Allen, an Augusta Republican, said on the House floor Thursday. Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat, argued that the U.S. Supreme Court already ruled last year that the Biden administration has the authority to determine its deportation policy. "The Office of Homeland Security cannot capture everyone, so choices should be made by the executive branch, not the states," Ivey said.

Raising the bill in the House plenary Thursday, House Legal Policy Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler of New York accused Republicans of "exploiting death" and "demonizing immigrants."

Republicans like Dan Bishop of North Carolina say the bill is needed to prevent "more victims of the flood of illegal immigrants caused by the crisis at the border." "Allowing this criminal to roam freely in our communities is absolutely unacceptable," Rick Allen, an Augusta Republican, said on the House floor Thursday. Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat, argued that the U.S. Supreme Court already ruled last year that the Biden administration has the authority to determine its deportation policy. "The Office of Homeland Security cannot capture everyone, so choices should be made by the executive branch, not the states," Ivey said.

Steve Scalise, a Republican representing the state of Louisiana and House majority leader, said at a Republican Party news conference Wednesday that Republicans planned to vote for the bill before the president's State of the Union address to criticize the Biden administration for its approach to immigration at the southern border. "A crisis that has had a devastating impact on families like Laken Riley's", Scalise said.

Steve Scalise, a Republican representing the state of Louisiana and House majority leader, said at a Republican Party news conference Wednesday that Republicans planned to vote for the bill before the president's State of the Union address to criticize the Biden administration for its approach to immigration at the southern border. "A crisis that has had a devastating impact on families like Laken Riley's", Scalise said.

Democrats condemned the bill and accused Republicans of politicizing the murder of a young woman. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts and chair of the House Rules Committee, stated that what happened to Riley was a tragedy and that his own daughter is 22 years old, the same age Riley was when she was killed at the end of February. "I am outraged that we have people in Congress and in this committee who are using such a horrific crime for political gain," McGovern said. "We are here because you want to use this terrible tragedy for political purposes."

Democrats condemned the bill and accused Republicans of politicizing the murder of a young woman. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts and chair of the House Rules Committee, stated that what happened to Riley was a tragedy and that his own daughter is 22 years old, the same age Riley was when she was killed at the end of February. "I am outraged that we have people in Congress and in this committee who are using such a horrific crime for political gain," McGovern said. "We are here because you want to use this terrible tragedy for political purposes."

The House of Representatives Republicans have repeatedly clashed with the White House over immigration issues, including approving the H.R. 2 bill, a party-line measure that would restore the immigration policy from the Trump administration, and refusing to support a bipartisan agreement in the Senate that would give the president the authority to make an executive decision at the southern border. Recently, House members voted to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in early February.

• The House of Representatives Republicans have repeatedly clashed with the White House over immigration issues, including approving the H.R. 2 bill, a party-line measure that would restore the immigration policy from the Trump administration, and refusing to support a bipartisan agreement in the Senate that would give the president the ability to make an executive decision at the southern border.
• Recently, members of the House of Representatives voted for the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in early February.

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