President Trump recognized the mother and sister of murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who were in attendance during his address to the joint session of Congress Tuesday, and blamed the Biden administration’s policies for her death.
“Laken was stolen from us by a savage, illegal alien gang member who was arrested while trespassing across Biden’s southern border and then sent to the United States under the heartless policies of that failed administration,” the commander in chief said.
“It was indeed a failed administration.”
Allyson Phillips, Riley’s mom, along with Lauren Phillips, her sister, were in the House gallery for Trump’s address, his first major speech since starting his second term on Jan. 20.
Trump, 78, recounted how he signed the Laken Riley Act to ratchet up immigration enforcement against illegal immigrants charged with certain crimes.
“Last year, I told Laken’s grieving parents that we would ensure their daughter would not have died in vain,” the president recounted.
“That’s why the very first bill I signed into law as your 47th president mandates the detention of all dangerous criminal aliens who threaten public safety. It’s very strong.”
Riley was killed by Tren de Aragua gang member Jose Ibarra on Feb. 22, 2024, while she jogged on the University of Georgia campus, not far from Augusta University, where the well-liked 22-year-old was pursuing a nursing degree.
Ibarra, 26, attempted to sexually assault the coed but ended up smashing her head with a rock and asphyxiating her when she fiercely battled back.
Prosecutors said Riley valiantly “fought for her life” for a staggering 18 minutes, gouging deep scratches into Ibarra’s neck and wrists before the much larger man finally overpowered her.
Those scratches — as well as his DNA later found under her fingernails — wound up being key pieces of evidence that helped convict her killer.
Ibarra was sentenced in November to life without parole for the heartless killing.
He is currently appealing his conviction and life sentence.
Riley’s savage death at the hands of an illegal immigrant ignited a national firestorm over the Biden administration’s open border policy, which saw some 12 million people cross the border, and coddling of illegal immigrants.
Ibarra’s case also prompted the Laken Riley Act, signed into law by President Trump in January, which requires illegal immigrants charged with certain serious crimes to be detained.
The measure also enables state attorneys general to file lawsuits against the Homeland Security secretary if the government fails to enforce immigration laws, particularly in instances where “the state or its residents experience harm, including financial harm in excess of $100.”
Ibarra — an illegal Venezuelan immigrant was released by the Biden administration after he was picked up crossing the border near El Paso, Texas, in September 2022.
He was later arrested in New York City for child endangerment and again for stealing from Walmart in Georgia before murdering Riley.
ICE later disclosed that Ibarra was not held after his arrest in the Empire State because he was released before officials could get a detainer.
The Laken Riley Act was passed by Congress in January with bipartisan support.
