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The gruesome murder of 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley, whose body was found Thursday on the University of Georgia campus, captures the concerns of many Americans about immigration. Her death raises important questions for Riley’s family, and all Americans, to answer.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, is accused of committing the heinous crime without any connection to Riley. The common sense question now is: How did he get here? Should he have been here in the first place?
Let’s go beyond the obvious.
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Ybarra reportedly entered the United States in September 2022 in El Paso, Texas. But the question that remains regarding Ibarra’s presence in the United States is that of sponsorship. Under Biden administration-era immigration protocols, Venezuelan migrants could be “sponsored” to the United States by individuals or entities willing to take responsibility for the new arrivals.
According to reports, Ybarra offered Covenant House, a homeless youth shelter in New York City, as a sponsor in order to gain entry into the United States.
Laken Riley poses for a photo to post on Facebook. Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was found dead near a lake on the University of Georgia campus on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Laken Riley/Facebook)
However, in an email exchange with this author, Covenant House’s executive director wrote:
Covenant House New York does not sponsor the admission of Mr. Jose Antonio Ibarra, nor does it sponsor the admission of any other person. I don’t know how our address ended up on his documents, but there have been and will continue to be instances of our address being listed at the border.
Assuming that is accurate, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, how is this possible? Could an asylum seeker simply summon a sponsor from the air? Why not do the most rudimentary investigation into the applicant’s putative sponsor?
The issue of sponsorship also raises other questions. What exactly is “sponsorship” based on? Considering that over 85% of his asylum applications are ultimately rejected?
For that matter, does the sponsor have a responsibility to monitor the sponsor, including potential legal liability?
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Regardless of who sponsored Ybarra, the fact that Ybarra left his mark on New York City appears to be true. New York Police Department officials have indicated to the media that Ybarra was arrested in Queens, New York in 2023 on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, a charge serious enough to garner attention but ultimately It appears that this is not enough to prevent his release.
This highlights another point of failure here and raises further questions. Based on New York City’s sanctuary city status, New York City officials could not notify ICE of Ybarra’s criminal status.
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But assuming ICE was aware of Ibarra’s criminal status, what are the provisions for cases like Ibarra’s? Considering that Venezuelan President Maduro has suspended repatriation flights Then? Where do Venezuelan criminals like Ibarra go? Who will house him in the meantime?
Has the Biden administration thought this through?
The questions surrounding this crime go to the heart of today’s immigration issues, and we deserve answers. It appears that ICE is currently taking a “no comment” stance regarding the details of Ibarra’s situation.
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unacceptable. The Biden administration needs to clarify: How in the world did Ibarra get here? Was he sponsored or simply a “fugitive” who entered the country illegally like millions of others?
And are there any provisions against Venezuelan immigrants violating our justice system?
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The last important thing to remember as we seek answers from our government is that we, as taxpayers, are funding this madness. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, the NGOs most involved in helping asylum seekers are funded by taxpayer subsidies, courtesy of the Biden administration.
Shouldn’t you at least understand what you’re paying for?
Finally, let’s not lose sight of what is at the heart of this discussion and the stakes involved. Ybarra is accused of the shockingly brutal murder of a bright and promising young woman who by all accounts was dedicated to the noble profession of nursing.
In addition, Ibarra has been arrested for at least two crimes since arriving in the United States, is wanted on a bench warrant in Georgia for shoplifting charges, and will return to Venezuela to see if he engaged in any criminal activity. There are no means.
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Therefore, Laken Riley and Jose Ibarra should never have met. Even having to print their names together is a pain.
Unfortunately, given the lack of response from the Biden administration regarding any of the above, this is unlikely to be the last time two such names have to appear together.
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