U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding information to assist the committee in its investigation into the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley.
“Laken Riley should be alive today.”⁰⁰Today, Chairman @RepMarkGreen sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas demanding information related DHS’ handling of Laken Riley’s murderer—a Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. illegally in September 2022 & was released into the country. pic.twitter.com/UCSSHPt3CE
— House Homeland GOP (@HomelandGOP) February 27, 2024
Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela, was arrested and charged on last week for his alleged murder of Riley, whose body was found near the University of Georgia campus on Thursday with “visible injuries.”
It has since been confirmed that Riley died of blunt-force trauma to the head.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Ibarra was arrested after crossing illegally into the U.S. on September 8, 2022.
The Venezuelan migrant was “paroled and released for further processing,” according to ICE, which also confirmed Ibarra was released after being arrested and charged in New York City with child endangerment and a motor vehicle license violation last year.
“The Committee on Homeland Security (Committee) is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Venezuelan murder suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra’s illegal entry, detention, and release into the United States,” Green wrote in his letter to Mayorkas.
“This tragedy further underscores the Committee’s serious concerns about the security of our nation, and the potential for criminal aliens to take advantage of the glaring vulnerabilities created by the Biden administration’s open-border policies,” Green added.
Green is requesting “any and all” information – including documents, notes, and communications – the department has relating to Ibarra be provided to the committee to assist in its investigation by March 11.
Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee also sent a letter to Mayorkas on Tuesday requesting information from DHS as the committee launches its own investigation into the death of Riley at the hands of the illegal Venezuelan immigrant.
🚨 #BREAKING: @Jim_Jordan & @RepMcClintock Demand Information from Biden Administration on Illegal Alien Who Murdered Laken Riley pic.twitter.com/6ESjWRAKxJ
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) February 27, 2024
“Criminal aliens exploit vulnerabilities in our nation’s immigration system to the detriment of those in the United States. The Biden Administration’s border and immigration policies only increase the likelihood that criminal aliens will successfully enter and remain in the U.S.,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA-05) wrote to Mayorkas.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Mark Green” by Mark Green.
