After GA Student's Death, Kemp Wants Answers From Biden Administration

ATHENS, GA — Immigration status questions have swirled after an Augusta nursing student was killed last week at the University of Georgia, and a Venezuelan national charged in her slaying may have been living in the country unlawfully.

Laken Riley, 22, was found dead Thursday at the campus' intramural fields, where she jogged. She died of blunt force trauma, authorities said, and Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was charged with killing her.

Ibarra was held without bond, Clarke County Jail records showed, and charged on suspicion of the following:

• Failure to appear for finger-printable charge
• Concealing the death of another person
• Kidnapping
• Obstructing/hindering a person from making an emergency telephone call
• False imprisonment
• Aggravated assault
• Aggravated battery
• Two counts of second-degree malice murder

Political Outcry

Amid UGA's mourning of Riley, her death sparked outrage from Gov. Brian Kemp. The Georgia governor sent a letter Saturday to President Joe Biden, calling for answers from the Biden administration.

Ibarra is from Venezuela, Kemp said, noting his older brother was arrested along with Ibarra and accused of having a fraudulent U.S. permanent resident card.

Ibarra's 29-year-old brother, Diego, was arrested the same day as Ibarra and was held for immigration, jail records showed.

Diego has been arrested multiple times since September on various charges including shoplifting and driving under the influence, Kemp said, citing justice officials. Kemp said he was released while his asylum papers were being processed.

RELATED: UGA Deaths: Suspect Arrested In Woman's Killing; 2nd Student Dead ID'd

"This past September, I joined 24 governors in writing you a letter requesting 'accurate, detailed, thorough data and information' regarding all illegal border crossings, relocation efforts and how asylum claims were being processed. This followed another letter from the nation's governors laying out actions you could carry out today to begin securing the border and restricting the flow of illegal crossings into our country," Kemp said in the Feb. 24 letter.

"Frankly, Mr. President, your continued silence in response to these reasonable requests is outrageous. The American people deserve to know who is illegally entering our country due to your administration's failures, and what risks and challenges every state must now face."

Kemp is demanding Biden explain why the Kemp administration was not made aware of the asylum claims against Ibarra's brother or his subsequent release into the public.

He also wants Biden to detail Ibarra's current immigration status, wondering why his office has not been informed of this information.

Finally, Kemp requested from Biden any additional information the president's office may have on the Ibarra brothers and their entry into the U.S.

Kemp's letter came 11 days after he announced he was sending more Georgia National Guard troops to the southern Texas border to help hinder "the free flow of illegal migrants" into the U.S.

RELATED: Foul Play Suspected In Woman's Death At UGA's Intramural Fields

"These tragedies are not unique to Georgia," Kemp said in his recent letter. "While we will continue to support Texas with National Guard resources as we have since 2019, federal action to secure the border is the only way to holistically address this ongoing crisis and ensure Laken Riley's horrible fate is not replicated across the country."

Kemp was not the sole political official who was seemingly triggered by Riley's death. U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, GA-10, also sounded off on the matter.

Collins said in a Facebook post Saturday that the "blood of Laken Riley is on the hands of" Biden, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the Athens-Clarke County government.

"Leigh Ann and I are deeply saddened to learn about the tragic death of a young nursing student on the University of Georgia’s campus yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones, and the community as they mourn this devastating loss of life," he said in a post Friday.

Then, a day later, he claimed Riley would be alive if not for an unsecured border and the state of Athens as a "sanctuary city."

"She would still be talking to her family, hanging out with friends, studying to be a nurse and working toward serving her community and saving the lives of others. ... If the leaders responsible for this have any honor, they will resign. If they don’t, the people need to remove them," he said.

On Monday, Collins called for Georgia lawmakers to mandate local law-enforcement agencies to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "specifically to honor detainers and to face real penalties if they don’t."

Focus on Campus Security

Meanwhile, UGA and the Augusta University College of Nursing at Athens are still grieving Riley's death. UGA has turned its sights on campus security.

“The safety and security of this campus is always center in my mind and center in all of the leadership on this campus,” UGA President Jere W. Morehead said Saturday, per a news release. “In fact, earlier this week, we had just approved the launch of some new initiatives related to more lighting, more cameras on this campus. We have got to do the best we can to protect the individuals on this campus, and I remain committed to that effort.”

Riley was a Class of 2025 student and had received her honorary white coat in August 2023, per Augusta University officials in a Friday post on Facebook.

"Not only was she a bright and dedicated student, but she had the distinct honor of making the Fall 2023 Dean’s List. Laken’s compassion and care for others is evident by her desire to be a nurse, and her choice of sorority, Alpha Chi Omega," officials said.

" ... The College of Nursing will miss Laken’s spirit on campus, and our hearts go out to her family and friends. We know that she would have been a wonderful nurse, and her passing is a loss for the profession and the communities she would have graciously served. In honor of Laken, we quote 'She Was There,'” a poem from The Nightingale Tribute."