WASHINGTON — As the death of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley on UGA's campus continues to be a central focus of political conversations over border security, President Joe Biden mentioned her name during his State of the Union address Thursday night.
It all started after Biden began talking about immigration issues at the southern border. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shouted Riley's name from the audience, which drew gasps and boos from some.
She then shouted, "Say her name!" Biden then reached down and grabbed a Laken Riley pin that Greene had given him as he made his entrance into the United States Capitol chamber.
"Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal," Biden said. "But how many...thousands of people are being killed by illegals. To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand."
When Biden walked into the chamber, Greene said, "Laken Riley, say her name Mr. President."
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Alabama Sen. Katie Britt also mentioned Riley in the Republican rebuttal to Biden's State of the Union address.
"Just think about Laken Riley. In my neighboring state of Georgia, this beautiful 22-year-old nursing student went out on a jog one morning," Britt said. "She never got the opportunity to return home. She was brutally murdered by one of the millions of illegal border crossers President Biden chose to release into our homeland."
You can see Britt's full comments and response to Biden about Laken Riley below:
In the weeks since, questions over Ibarra's immigration status have become a political flashpoint on border security, as likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the GOP party have used her death to rebuke President Joe Biden's immigration policies.
That said, The U.S. House passed a resolution Thursday centering on the death of Laken Riley. It was introduced as H.R.7511, stating it would "require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody" undocumented immigrants who have been charged with theft. The resolution was introduced by Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, whose district includes Athens.
In general, the bill aims to toughen penalties for undocumented individuals accused of criminal activities after Riley's accused killer, Jose Ibarra, had been cited, but not arrested, for shoplifting in December. The resolution also gives state attorneys general the authority to litigate against the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security if they allege a "violation of the detention and removal requirements" of the resolution. The resolution must now go to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where its prospects are unclear.
Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was also seen wearing a Laken Riley button. It is currently unknown who else had one displayed.