By Jon Michael Raasch, political reporter on Capitol Hill, for Dailymail.Com
19:07 March 7, 2024, updated 04:38 March 8, 2024
- Laken Riley, 22, was killed on the University of Georgia campus
- Local authorities charged 26-year-old Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan citizen who entered the United States illegally, with Riley's murder
- Ibarra has already been charged with child endangerment Shoplifting
- Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., is introducing the Laken Riley Act this week to create DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas should detain migrants who commit theft
After college student Laken Riley's tragic death, Republicans passed a law in her honor to crack down on illegal immigrants who break the law.
The Lake Riley Act, passed by a vote of 251-170, requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants accused of theft and other crimes. Notably, 37 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure.
The bill is named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student who was recently found dead and disfigured on campus.
Her alleged killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, is a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen who is in the country illegally. Ibarra was arrested in New York for endangering a child and was reported for shoplifting in Georgia, but was not arrested by ICE immediately before Riley's murder.
The bill's passage came just hours before President Biden is set to arrive at the Capitol for his State of the Union address. In his remarks, he is expected to blame Republicans for failing to vote on a Senate-led $118 billion bill to secure the border.
Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., called on President Biden to mention Laken Riley in his address tonight.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested for Laken Riley's murder and appeared in court on February 24 when he was formally charged with the young woman's murder. Officials have confirmed that Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and had no knowledge or any type of murderous relationship with Riley. Notably, 37 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure
Riley “was murdered by an illegal immigrant who should never have entered our country,” she said earlier Thursday.
“Biden is neglecting the safety of American citizens. “At SOTU tonight he should say her name,” Miller continued.
The White House finally broke its silence on the anniversary of Riley's death after she was killed, sparking nationwide outrage.
“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laken Hope Riley,” a White House official said in a statement to DailyMail.com late last month.
“People should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if found guilty.” “Because this is an active case, we would have to refer you to state law enforcement and ICE,” the White House official said .
The statement notably did not mention illegal Venezuelan immigrant Ibarra by name.
Ibarra has been charged with shoplifting and child endangerment since entering the United States in 2022.
The bill would also allow individual states to sue the federal government if it or its citizens are harmed by immigration-related actions.
The new legislation from Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., would have required Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest Ibarra after his first offense and before he had a chance to attack Riley.
Collins represents Georgia's 10th Congressional District, which includes the community where Riley was killed.
The bill would “require the Secretary of Homeland Security to detain aliens who have been charged with theft and other charges in the United States,” according to a copy of the bill obtained by DailyMail.com.
According to ICE, Ibarra was arrested just five months ago and charged with “injury to a child under 17 and driving violation.”
Ibarra, who had worked for food delivery services such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, was caught in New York City driving his wife's son in the back seat of a gasoline-powered moped without a helmet or child restraint.
The NYPD released him “before an arrest warrant could be issued,” the agency said.
New York City is also a “sanctuary city,” which typically prevents law enforcement from following ICE detainees.
Rep. Mike Collins, who represents Athens, Georgia, in Congress, wrote the Lake Riley Act. Jose Ibarra entered the United States with his brother Diego in 2022, ICE confirmed
In 2022, Ibarra was charged with shoplifting at a Walmart in Athens, Georgia.
However, he was allowed to remain in the country.
Under the Lake Riley Act, Ibarra should have been arrested following his shoplifting charge.
The bill also contains language condemning the Biden administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Congress notes that the nation – mourns the devastating loss of Laken Riley and other victims of the Biden Administration’s blatantly boring policies; “Honores the life and memory of Laken Riley and other victims of the Biden administration’s open borders policies.”
