(NewsNation) — The University of Georgia Police Department arrested migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally, in connection with the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley.
The killing of Riley has reignited discussions about border security protocols, with questions raised regarding the vetting process for migrants entering the country.
“When somebody is arrested for crossing illegally, there are limited checks on their background,” said Chris Cabrera, a vice president of the National Border Patrol Council. “Their fingerprints are run against our records here in the United States, and not all countries share their records with us. So if we don’t have access to their records, if they haven’t committed any crimes here in the United States, then all we have to go by is what they say.”
Cabrera highlighted the shortcomings in the vetting process, emphasizing that many individuals exploit loopholes to gain entry into the country without proper scrutiny.
“Unfortunately, CBP (Customs and Border Protection) shows no interest in closing that loophole. And we’re going to continue along this path, unfortunately,” Cabrera added.
Cabrera said that some exploit the concept of “credible fear” claims, which individuals often cite as grounds for seeking asylum. Cabrera explained that while credible fear should pertain to factors like political or religious persecution, the system is frequently abused.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has expressed fury over the 22-year-old’s death, suggesting in a letter to the White House that her alleged killer slipped through cracks in the Biden administration’s immigration policy.
Shortly after Kemp’s conference, President Joe Biden posted a statement to social media defending his administration’s border efforts.
“Months ago, I instructed my team to begin working with bipartisan lawmakers to fix our immigration system. They did a hell of a job, and together, we put forward some of the most fair reforms ever. Speaker Johnson, it’s time to call a vote and send this bill to my desk,” he wrote.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to NewsNation that Ibarra is a citizen of Venezuela who crossed into the United States illegally in 2022.
According to ICE officials, Ibarra made his way to New York City, where he was arrested Sept. 14, 2023, and charged with “acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation. He was released by the NYPD before a detainer could be issued.”
Ibarra was arrested on suspicion of killing Riley in broad daylight while she was out on her morning jog along a popular UGA running trail.
Ibarra made an initial court appearance Saturday on several felony charges, including murder, kidnapping and aggravated assault. He is expected back in court sometime this week.
Authorities are confident Riley didn’t know her attacker, but NewsNation can confirm a link between Ibarra and UGA. A university spokesperson said Ibarra’s brother Diego recently worked in a campus dining hall as a dishwasher.
NewsNation’s Caitlyn Becker contributed to this report.