Staff Reports
The Georgia state Senate had a riveting visit from Jason Riley, father of the late Laken Riley, who pleaded with the lawmakers to take action on the more than one million immigrants wreaking havoc and fear among families.
Laken Riley’s father demands Georgia Senate enact immigration reform https://t.co/YtI49KyrhZ https://t.co/YtI49KyrhZ
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 21, 2024
Laken Riley, a promising student at the University of Georgia, was tragically found dead on campus on February 22nd. It was alleged that her life was senselessly stolen by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant living near the campus who has since been arrested in connection to her death. Ibarra is facing a laundry list of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.
The grieving father, Jason Riley, implored the Senate to heed his call to action, emphasizing the need to protect citizens from the influx of illegal immigrants. He painted a stark picture of the over one million illegal aliens causing unease and worry among families in the state. Riley made it clear that his daughter’s tragic fate was directly linked to the sanctuary city policies, specifically calling out Athens Clark as a sanctuary city and attributing the murder of his daughter to the lack of action stemming from these policies.
Riley also highlighted the state’s recent moves, including the passage of House Bill 1105, which empowers local authorities to detain immigrants for deportation if they are found to be residing in the country illegally. The resolute legislation, championed by six Republicans and passed 97-74, sends a clear message that illegal immigration will not be tolerated, despite opposition from the lone Democratic member who voted against it.
Additionally, Riley urged Governor Kemp to take decisive action to address the crisis at hand. His impassioned plea for Governor Kemp to declare an invasion to detain and deport criminal illegals reverberated through the hallowed chambers of the Senate, as he sought to prevent future families from enduring the same heart-wrenching tragedies.
While Governor Brian Kemp has yet to directly respond to Riley’s impassioned plea, he did not mince words in a written statement, asserting that President Biden must compel the Department of Homeland Security to fulfill its duty, signaling his unwavering stance on combating illegal immigration.
The sanctuary city status of Athens, Georgia, has been a hot-button issue, with the controversial resolution passed in 2019 welcoming all immigrants, irrespective of their legal status. Riley pointed to this long-standing policy as a contributing factor to the death of his daughter, underscoring the need to reevaluate these welcoming measures.
The fervent visit from Jason Riley shed light on the devastating consequences of lax immigration policies, sparking a fiery debate within the Senate chambers and igniting a flame of urgency to address the pressing concerns outlined by the grieving father.
