The father of a student who was killed has called on Georgia’s governor to declare an “invasion to detain and deport criminal illegals.”
Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student was killed last month in Athens, Georgia while she was jogging.
A Venezuelan man, Jose Antonio Ibarra, who authorities say entered the US illegally has been charged with her murder.
In a speech before the Georgia State Senate Jason Riley called on Governor Brian Kemp to “do more to protect us” following the death of his daughter.
Jason Riley told the hearing: “I stand before you, a heartbroken man…Part of my purpose has been taken. God gave me a beautiful daughter to father, protect, provide for and nurture. A man with an evil heart stole her life. He was in this country and in this state illegally.
“My vision for every senator in this chamber is that you protect citizens from this illegal invasion…please recognise over a million illegal aliens are in this state and making families nervous.”
New York Post reports that Ibarra, 26, who entered the US illegally through the southern border two years ago, has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and battery, kidnapping, and false imprisonment.
It comes just days after Jason Riley told NBC News that he had been left feeling “angry” accusing both sides of the political debate that his daughter’s death was being politicised.
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Laken Riley’s parents Jason Riley (C) and Allyson Philips attend a Donald Trump rally
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He said: “I think it’s being used politically to get those votes, It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, they’re just using my daughter’s name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is. She was an angel.”
Republicans, who blame Biden and his administration’s border policies for the deaths of Americans killed by illegal migrants, have seized on the case.
Controversial US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wore a “Say Her Name” t-shirt, a reference to Riley. She handed Biden a Riley pin, which he accepted and later held up during his State of the Union speech.
Biden then mentioned Riley’s murder during his remarks. He apologised on Saturday for referring to the suspect as an “illegal.”
US Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene wore a shirt referencing the student
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Earlier this week, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena announced the government has signed an agreement with Venezuela to deport migrants and reached deals with Mexican and Venezuelan companies to employ them.
Venezuelans have been among the largest groups of migrants arriving in Mexico on their way to the United States, as they seek to flee their country’s political and economic crisis.
There are 4,000-5,000 Venezuelan migrants currently stranded in Mexico, mostly in the city of Tijuana.
US citizens are increasingly concerned about migrants reaching their borders, with a Reuters-Ipsos poll earlier this year finding that 17 per cent considered the issue was the most important problem facing the country, up 11 per cent from December.
Source Agencies
