Sen. Hawley and Republicans Grill DHS Director Mayorkas Over Release of Alleged Illegal Immigrant Murderer
Today, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and other Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Senate strongly criticized Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas during a hearing where Mayorkas was forced to admit that the suspect in the murder of Georgia resident Laken Riley had been previously in custody and was released early due to a government program designed to address urgent humanitarian situations.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records, the suspect, José Antonio Ibarra, was arrested on September 8, 2022, nearly 18 months before allegedly committing the crime that resulted in Riley’s death. Ibarra was promptly paroled and released for further processing under the program mentioned by Mayorkas.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman, expressed outrage at Mayorkas for abusing the authority of the program to release individuals accused of serious crimes, suggesting that Riley would still be alive if not for this action. Sen. Hawley’s confrontation with Mayorkas during the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing highlighted the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability.
Similarly, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) challenged Mayorkas on how he could sleep at night knowing that his decisions likely contributed to Riley’s tragic death at the hands of Ibarra. Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was abducted while jogging at the University of Georgia on February 22nd, and her body was later found in a nearby park.
Ibarra, a 26-year-old from Venezuela, has been charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, and kidnapping in connection with Riley’s death. The ongoing legal proceedings have not yet set a trial date for Ibarra.
Riley’s father has been vocal in calling for stricter immigration enforcement, urging Georgia lawmakers to declare the situation an invasion by illegal immigrants. President of the United States, Joe Biden, later extended his condolences to the Riley family in the wake of the tragedy.
In response to Riley’s death, the U.S. House passed the ‘Laken Riley Act,’ aimed at mandating federal immigration enforcement to arrest and detain illegal aliens until they are deported from the country. However, President Biden has faced criticism for his handling of the situation, with accusations that he attempted to downplay the severity of illegal immigrant-related crimes.
Furthermore, Secretary Mayorkas faced impeachment proceedings initiated by the Republican-controlled House on April 16th, which were ultimately dismissed by the Democrat-controlled Senate. This development drew comparisons to the impeachment trials of former President Donald Trump, where a Republican-controlled Senate held hearings based on allegations that were deemed baseless by many.
The tragic death of Laken Riley has sparked debates on immigration policy and border security, highlighting the need for a comprehensive review of existing protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding Riley’s murder, lawmakers remain committed to seeking justice for the victim and accountability for those responsible for her untimely death.
