ICE Confirms that The Suspected Killer of a Georgia Student Entered the Country Illegally and Was Previously Detained in NYC!
CNS News– Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has verified that the suspect charged in connection with the tragic murder of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley entered the United States illegally in 2022. The suspect, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, had previously been arrested in New York City.
According to reports from Fox News, Ibarra crossed into the U.S. illegally near El Paso in September 2022 and was subsequently paroled into the country. ICE confirmed that Ibarra was encountered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on September 8, 2022, after entering near El Paso and was “paroled and released for further processing.”
Furthermore, Ibarra had encountered law enforcement in New York City, where he was arrested by the New York Police Department on August 31, 2023, and charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17, along with a motor vehicle license violation.
Typically, when ICE identifies an individual believed to be removable and who has been arrested on criminal charges, the agency issues a detainer requesting local law enforcement to keep the suspect in custody until they can be transferred to ICE for deportation proceedings.
ICE confirms Georgia student murder suspect entered US illegally, was previously arrested in NYC https://t.co/Rbw6hLId9U
— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) February 26, 2024
However, in this case, Ibarra was released before a detainer could be issued, partly due to New York City’s status as a “sanctuary city,” which limits cooperation with ICE detainers. Despite his immigration status, Ibarra was encountered by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Atlanta after being arrested by the University of Georgia Police Department and charged with murder and other crimes. ICE lodged a detainer against him.
The tragic loss of Laken Riley, a promising nursing student, has shaken the community. Riley, a student at Augusta University, was found dead after previously attending the University of Georgia. Police have charged Ibarra with numerous offenses, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.
During a court appearance, Clarke County Magistrate Judge Donarell Green denied Ibarra’s bond “for today,” reflecting the seriousness of the charges against him. In a heartbreaking twist, Ibarra’s wife, Layling Franco, also of Venezuela, spoke out, expressing shock and disbelief at the accusations against her husband.
Despite their marital connection, Franco emphasized that she was not involved in any wrongdoing related to the case and described Ibarra as a calm person. She expressed a desire to speak to him, hoping for a resolution and expressing faith that there may have been a misunderstanding.
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The case underscores the complexities surrounding immigration enforcement and the challenges posed by differing approaches to cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agencies like ICE. It also highlights the devastating impact of violent crimes on communities and families.