Sunshine Sentinel

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On March 12, 2024, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Rand Paul, along with Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Josh Hawley and Roger Marshall, all members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting additional information on Jose Antonio Ibarra. Ibarra faces charges related to the murder of Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University on the campus of the University of Georgia. The letter describes reports indicating Ibarra was previously apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2022 near El Paso, Texas, but was released into the country through parole. The letter also details the recent media reports outlining Ibarra’s multiple prior encounters with state and local law enforcement, including charges of reckless endangerment of a child in New York City and a misdemeanor shoplifting citation in Georgia. Despite consistently demonstrating a clear disregard for U.S. law, Ibarra was never taken into ICE custody. 

The senators expressed that the tragic death of Laken Hope Riley raises serious questions about the ability of DHS to effectively secure our homeland. As a result, the senators requested DHS provide all documents and records related to Ibarra and all communications DHS, CBP, and ICE had with each other along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding Ibarra. 

Read the full letter to Secretary Mayorkas HERE or below:

Dear Secretary Mayorkas: 

We, as members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), are writing to request additional information on Jose Antonio Ibarra, who faces charges related to the murder of a nursing student at Augusta University on the campus of the University of Georgia. Reports indicate that Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, was previously apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2022 near El Paso, Texas where he was released into the country through parole.  

According to recent media reports, Ibarra had multiple prior encounters with state and local law enforcement, including the New York Police Department (NYPD). For example, in September 2023, Ibarra was arrested in New York City, a sanctuary city, by the NYPD for driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle with a five-year-old on board, resulting in charges of reckless endangerment of a child and acting injuriously towards a child under 17. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the NYPD released Ibarra “before a detainer could be issued” and he was not taken into ICE custody following this arrest. In October 2023, Ibarra received a misdemeanor shoplifting citation in Georgia. He subsequently failed to appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for Ibarra. 

On February 23, 2024, the University of Georgia Police Department announced that Ibarra had been arrested for the murder of Laken Hope Riley. This tragedy raises serious questions about the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ability to effectively secure our homeland. The failure to remove an individual who consistently demonstrated a clear disregard for U.S. laws, despite numerous opportunities to do so, highlights a risk to public safety and poses a threat to American lives. 

For this reason, we request the following information no later than March 25, 2024: 

1. All DHS records, including component records and complete Alien File (A-File), related to Jose Antonio Ibarra, including his immigration status and criminal history;
2. All communications from or between DHS, CBP, and ICE regarding Ibarra, including, but not limited to, his immigration status and criminal history;
3. All documents and communications regarding Ibarra’s arrival and entry at the southwest land border or any other U.S. border;
4. All documents and communications related to detention space at the time of Ibarra’s apprehension;
5. Any addresses provided by Ibarra upon entering the U.S.;
6. All documents and communications related to Ibarra’s personal information processed through international and national criminal databases;
7. All documents and communications related to any asylum claims made by Ibarra, including the type and reason provided;
8. All communications that DHS, CBP, or ICE had with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in relation to Ibarra, including but not limited to any arrests or detainments by any state jurisdiction; and
9. All documents and communications detailing his transit through other countries and whether he sought asylum in a third country.

Original source can be found here.