Republicans press Biden administration for information on suspect in Georgia student’s death

A pair of Republican lawmakers is pressing the Biden administration for more information on the suspect in connection to the death of a student on the University of Georgia (UGA) campus last week.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday demanding more information on Jose Ibarra, who was arrested last week and is facing numerous charges in connection to the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley.

“To assist the Committee with its continued oversight of federal immigration policy and procedures, we ask that you please provide the following information and materials regarding Jose Antonio Ibarra,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

The letter was first reported by NewsNation — the cable media network owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

Riley was found dead Thursday after her roommate reported she didn’t return from a morning run on the UGA campus. Ibarra is facing multiple murder and assault charges, as well as a kidnapping charge, in connection to Riley’s death, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Ibarra is a Venezuelan citizen who crossed into the U.S. unlawfully in 2022, per the AP. He was detained but then released later for further processing, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

It’s not clear if Ibarra had applied for asylum.

Jordan and McClintock are demanding more information on Ibarra, including records of his immigration history, when and where he entered into the U.S. and information on his screening process. They are demanding a response to their letter by 5 p.m. EDT on March 12.

“Criminal aliens exploit vulnerabilities in our nation’s immigration system to the detriment of those in the United States,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The Biden Administration’s border and immigration policies only increase the likelihood that criminal aliens will successfully enter and remain in the U.S. Pursuant to the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to conduct oversight of federal immigration policy and procedures,” they added.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) referred The Hill to the statement from ICE over the weekend related to the investigation and declined to comment on the letter.

“The Department cannot publicly comment further on an ongoing criminal investigation and we respond to congressional correspondence directly via official channels. This was a horrific and senseless crime, and the individual responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent under the law. Our hearts go out to Laken Riley’s family,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.

ICE confirmed in its statement that Ibarra was arrested on Sept. 8, 2022 after entering the U.S. near El Paso, Texas. He was later arrested on Aug. 31, 2023 by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and charged with a motor vehicle license violation and acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17, according to the statement.

The statement said he was released by NYPD at the time before a detainer was issued.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

This story was updated at 6:07 p.m.