The tragic killing of Laken Riley in February has sparked a national conversation on immigration and crime following the arrest of Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. Several state and national Republican leaders have used Ibarra's immigration status to advocate for stricter border security measures, despite the lack of substantial evidence linking immigration to crime.
During President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in March, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene interrupted the president, urging him to acknowledge Riley's death. In response, Biden held up a button that read, 'Say Her Name LAKEN RILEY,' expressing his condolences to Riley's parents and emphasizing the need for compassion in such tragic circumstances.
