The Biden White House has faced controversy and scrutiny over its claims of border security after it was revealed that the suspect charged with the murder of University of Georgia student Laken Riley had entered the country illegally. President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had all praised the administration’s efforts to secure the southern border and handle migrant flows at the time. However, their comments now hold a different meaning in light of this recent revelation.
During an interview with NBC News on September 12, 2022, Vice President Harris stated, “We have a secure border in that, that is a priority for any nation including ours and our administration.” She also acknowledged the need for a “pathway for citizenship” as an ongoing issue related to immigration. Similarly, Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated during a press briefing that the border was secure, emphasizing the administration’s unprecedented actions to fix what was broken by the previous administration.
President Biden echoed these sentiments during remarks at the annual Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala on September 15, 2022. He praised the Obama-Biden administration’s support for DREAMers and criticized Republicans for “playing politics” with immigration. He emphasized that the administration had a process in place to manage migrants at the border, ensuring safety, orderliness, and humanity.
However, on September 20, 2022, when asked about the overwhelmed border during his presidency, President Biden pointed out that more migrants were coming from certain countries like Venezuela, where the murder suspect, Jose Antonio Ibarra, had traveled from weeks earlier. The president argued that deporting illegal immigrants to these countries was not rational and that efforts were being made to work with Mexico and other nations to address the flow of migrants.
The comments made by Biden, Harris, and Jean-Pierre came amid a surge in illegal immigration that began shortly after Biden took office in early 2021. In September 2022, Customs and Border Patrol reported a significant increase of encounters with migrants, reaching 227,547, an 18% year-over-year rise. This figure far exceeded the numbers reported during the Trump administration. Then-CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus attributed the increase to migrants coming from Venezuela.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Ibarra had entered the U.S. illegally in September 2022 and had been encountered by CBP near El Paso, Texas. He was paroled and released for further processing. It was also revealed that Ibarra had been arrested by the New York Police Department in September 2023 on charges related to injuring a child and a motor vehicle license violation.
Authorities in Georgia charged Ibarra with multiple offenses, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another. Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia, was found dead after she left her dormitory to go on a run.
The White House expressed condolences to Riley’s family and stated that those found guilty should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. However, they did not respond to inquiries regarding their previous claims of border security in September 2022.
In conclusion, the Biden administration’s assertions of border security and effective handling of migrant flows have come under scrutiny following the revelation that the suspect charged with Laken Riley’s murder entered the country illegally. The comments made by President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Karine Jean-Pierre have taken on a new meaning in light of this tragic event. The administration now faces questions about its ability to secure the border and manage immigration effectively.
