BREAKING: The U.S. Border Patrol released an illegal immigrant later charged with the murder of Laken Riley just one day after an arrest, according to a congressional report. The report claims that despite multiple interactions with law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after his entry into the U.S., Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allowed the suspect to remain at large.
The eye-opening interim report, released Friday by the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, argues that Riley’s February death is a direct result of the Biden-Harris administration’s lax or nonexistent border policies.
On Feb. 22, Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was jogging at the University of Georgia campus when she was murdered by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.
The suspect, José Antonio Ibarra, is a 26-year-old Venezuelan who had entered the United States illegally through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022. Ibarra has been charged with ten crimes, including felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault with intent to rape and kidnapping.
The report reveals that following an arrest, Ibarra was released from Border Patrol custody the day after his apprehension due to “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”
Further, Ibarra had resided in Ecuador, where he was considered to be living “safely,” from Jan. 2017 until his arrival in the U.S. in 2022.
The report criticizes the DHS for citing detention capacity as the reason for Ibarra’s release, suggesting the agency could have detained him longer. The committee’s document claims that Ibarra’s release enabled him to commit further crimes, including Riley’s alleged kidnapping and murder in Georgia.
Ibarra and his brother Diego had previously faced shoplifting charges, which were handled as misdemeanors and did not result in further detention. Ibarra’s criminal background in the U.S. continued in September 2023, when Ibarra was arrested by the New York City Police Department for child endangerment.
ICE entered this information into its enforcement system, yet did not file a detainer against Ibarra until after Riley’s murder.
The report sharply criticizes the Biden-Harris administration’s permissive handling of immigration enforcement.
“The information obtained by the Committee shows in stark terms the real-world consequences of the Biden-Harris Administration’s failure to secure the border and enforce immigration law,” it states.
The document catalogs other cases where illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds were released into the U.S., leading to further criminal activity.
The committee also accused Senate Democrats of blocking H.R. 2, the Secure Border Act of 2023, which aims to restrict asylum eligibility and address illegal immigration more effectively. Senate Democrats have argued that the bill politicizes tragedy and is overly broad.
“To secure America, the Senate must pass, and President Biden must sign into law, H.R. 2. In the meantime, the Committee and Subcommittee will continue to conduct vigorous oversight to inform legislative reforms to address President Biden and Vice President Harris’ dangerous immigration policies,” the report concludes.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data from fiscal year 2021 through mid-July 2024 show over 52,000 arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal records.
Ibarra’s trial is set for Nov. 18, 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to all ten charges.
Riley’s death has garnered significant media attention and reignited the debate over immigration policy. In response, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act on March 7, 2024, which mandates federal detention for migrants convicted of burglary or theft.
