White House finally releases statement on Laken Riley's brutal murder — but it only makes things worse: 'Sad and pathetic'
The White House was slammed on Monday for releasing a woefully inadequate statement about the shocking murder of Laken Riley.
Police have charged Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, for murdering Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia college student, on the University of Georgia campus last week.
Court documents allege that Ibarra didn't simply kill Riley. Rather, police accuse him of "disfiguring her skull."
The heinous crime has brought increased attention to the border crisis and President Joe Biden's immigration policies, and the administration's response to Riley's murder isn't helping.
On Monday, a White House spokesperson released the following statement:
We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laken Hope Riley. People should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty. Given this is an active case, we would have to refer you to state law enforcement and ICE.
The lackluster statement — which doesn't, in fact, include any word from President Biden himself — was quickly slammed.
"No statement from Biden? Just a few cold words from a press aide. Pathetic," Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said.
'"People should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty.' Really?
The White House refused to hold this illegal alien accountable for crossing our border illegally in 2022," Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)
said.
"I've heard NO APOLOGIES or remorse from @TheDemocrats about their open border policies leading to another murdered American," Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said in response.
"Tragic and preventable. Joe Biden took 94 executive actions in his first 100 days to expose our southern border. 3 years later, Biden still refuses to take accountability for creating the worst border catastrophe in American history. His failure is having deadly consequences," Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) responded.
"Once again, Biden refuses to take accountability for creating the worst border disaster in American history. What a sad and pathetic statement given his administration's actions have allowed this to take place. @POTUS stop the invasion, shut down the border," Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) said.
"Mr. President, instead of making excuses for her murder, and defending policies that weaken our immigration laws, we must ensure justice for Laken by first securing our border," Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) said.
"I see they left out the part that her murder was a result of leftist sanctuary city policies and the open border," Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), pointed out.
"If only the White House showed similar deference to ICE on actually enforcing our laws, then Laken Riley may still be alive. There were thousands of detention beds available to detain and remove Laken’s killer when he entered illegally," the National Immigration Center for Enforcement said.
As Blaze News reported, Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in September 2022.
About a year later, Ibarra was arrested in New York City for "acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation." But he was "released by the NYPD before a detainer could be issued," ICE said. Ibarra then moved to Georgia sometime last fall.
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