Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) emphasized on Monday that the tragic murder of a nursing student at the University of Georgia should not dictate the overall approach to U.S. immigration policy.
Speaking on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront,” Porter, who is currently in the race for a U.S. Senate seat in California, expressed the complex emotions tied to violent crimes but cautioned against allowing a single incident to sway comprehensive immigration strategies in an obvious downplaying of the woman’s death.
“We’re dealing with violent crime, there is a sense of outrage, of sadness and loss,” Porter stated, highlighting the broader considerations that must inform immigration policy, such as economic factors and the pursuit of prosperity in America.
The case in question involves the killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley, whose body was discovered last Thursday, leading to widespread condemnation and renewed debates over immigration policies.
The main suspect, 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen Jose Ibarra, reportedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was later released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being detained at the border.
Further complicating matters, Ibarra was arrested in New York on charges related to endangering a child and a motor vehicle license violation but was released before ICE could request his detention for immigration enforcement. Discrepancies have arisen, however, as New York officials claim there is no record of such an arrest.
The incident has become a focal point for some Republicans to critique the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Porter, however, urged for a balanced perspective, acknowledging the tragedy of the situation while advocating for a nuanced understanding of immigration policy’s various components.