Representative Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, wants Joe Biden to mention Laken Riley in his State of the Union address. Laken Riley was a 22-year-old student at the Augusta University College of Nursing. She was found dead late last month near the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Athens resident, was later arrested and charged in connection with her death. According to authorities, Ibarra entered the country illegally in 2022. They claim his alleged crime was reportedly an “isolated incident” and a “crime of opportunity, [with] no motive.”
Thanks to Ibarra’s immigration status, Riley’s death has become a beacon for Republicans in their calls for stricter border policies. GOP lawmakers have been pointing out the crimes committed by undocumented immigrants as the cause for such policies.
However, research shows that native citizens and legal immigrants commit more felonies at much greater rates than illegal immigrants. Republicans are focusing on Biden’s failure to publicly address Riley’s death.
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In a letter to the White House on Monday, Banks, who has been in Indiana’s 3rd District since 2017 and is running for U.S. Senate, urged Biden to mention her in his State of the Union address on Thursday night.
“Your failure to publicly acknowledge this tragedy is unacceptable,” Banks wrote. “You have a great opportunity to respect the wishes of Laken Riley’s mother by breaking your silence and saying her name at the upcoming State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7, 2024.”
Banks also wants Biden to reinstitute “Trump-era immigration policies” he claims deterred migrant crossings despite a surge near the end of Donald Trump’s presidency, according to Customs and Border Patrol data.
POLL—Should the U.S. Government Create a Path to Citizenship for Undocumented Immigrants?
Biden and other Democrats recently called out Republicans angry over the situation at the border for their refusal to support a recent bipartisan Senate bill. The bill would have led to the most significant border policy reforms in a decade.
Republicans who opposed the bill claim that they did so because of its contents. However, many say that the reason is so Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, can continue to campaign on border issues through November.
The migrant issue continues to worsen, but because of the upcoming elections, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans really want to solve it. After all, whoever can bring it to an end will most likely emerge as the winner of the election.
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As things stand, Americans are starting to see Trump as their best option. Experts believe that if there was an election today, it is highly likely Trump would win by a landslide. Especially in states closer to the border.
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