January 1, Biden’s Parole Loophole: Illegal Alien Charged in Student’s Murder

The shocking case of the illegal alien, Jose Antonio Ibarra, charged with the kidnap and murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, has brought to light the dangerous implications of President Joe Biden’s parole pipeline. This policy, which operates at the nation’s southern border, has been identified as the means by which Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela, entered the United States.

Antonio Ibarra was arrested and charged this month with the heinous crimes committed against Riley while she was out for a morning run around the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have since confirmed that Antonio Ibarra is an illegal alien who first arrived at the United States-Mexico border in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas.

“Rather than being held in detention or immediately removed, he was released into the United States interior via Biden’s parole pipeline.”

This parole pipeline is part of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’s expansive Catch and Release network at the border. This network sees thousands of illegal aliens apprehended and then promptly released into American towns and cities every day, with the expectation that they will show up for an immigration hearing years down the road.

“DHS officials have privately suggested that about 5,000 illegal aliens are released into the United States interior every day under Biden and Mayorkas. The DHS secretary, according to Border Patrol agents, has privately admitted that about 85 percent of all illegal aliens arriving at the border are released into American towns and cities.”

Even after Antonio Ibarra was released into the United States interior, he was arrested in August 2023 in New York City and charged with injuring a child under 17 years old as well as with a motor vehicle violation. However, the city’s sanctuary policy, as well as New York state’s sanctuary law, ensured that Antonio Ibarra was freed from jail before ICE agents could request custody of him.

“It is almost certain that if he had been handed over to ICE agents, he never would have been in Athens months later.”

Antonio Ibarra’s brother, 29-year-old illegal alien Diego Jose Ibarra from Venezuela, also crossed the border and had been living in Athens at the time of Riley’s murder. He used a fake green card to secure a dishwashing job at the University of Georgia for a brief period.

“In September 2023, Diego Ibarra was arrested in Athens for drunk driving and driving without a license. He was arrested again in Athens in October 2023 for shoplifting and then in December 2023 for failing to appear in court.”

NewsNation’s Ali Bradley reports that Diego Ibarra first crossed the border near Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 3, 2023, but returned to Mexico soon afterward. He then crossed the border near El Paso on April 30, 2023, and allegedly was involved in assaulting a Border Patrol agent.

“According to Bradley’s report, he was not prosecuted because he claimed to have epilepsy. Another Venezuelan illegal alien who arrived at the border with him was prosecuted for felony assault and is in federal prison in Texas.”

After his arrival, Diego Ibarra was turned over to ICE agents and allowed to parole out of federal custody, ultimately ending up in Athens. On February 22, Riley went for a morning jog along the University of Georgia’s campus in Athens, where she had transferred from in 2023. When she did not return, her roommate called the police who started a search for Riley.

“Only hours after Riley left for her morning run, her body was found in a wooded area near Lake Herrick. Police said Riley’s body showed visible injuries. The following day, police arrested Antonio Ibarra.”

Antonio Ibarra remains in Clarke County Jail, as does his brother. Antonio Ibarra has been charged with kidnapping, murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of a person. This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous implications of the Biden administration’s parole pipeline policy.

Why It Matters (op-ed)

The horrifying murder of Laken Riley exposes the severe consequences of Biden’s parole pipeline. This policy allows dangerous illegal aliens like Antonio Ibarra to enter and roam freely in our towns and cities, putting innocent Americans at risk.

Sanctuary policies in cities like New York further contribute to the problem, enabling criminals like Ibarra to avoid ICE custody. The tragic outcome in this case could have been prevented if the administration prioritized national security and public safety over their soft stance on immigration.

The Biden administration’s parole pipeline and sanctuary laws must be reevaluated to prevent further tragedies and ensure the safety of American citizens.

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