Duval Times

In a letter addressed to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Senator Rick Scott, along with Senator Rand Paul and other members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, requested additional information on Jose Antonio Ibarra. Ibarra is facing charges related to the murder of Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University.

The letter highlighted that Ibarra, a Venezuelan national, was previously apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2022 near El Paso, Texas, and was released into the country through parole. Despite multiple encounters with law enforcement, including a reckless endangerment charge in New York City and a misdemeanor shoplifting citation in Georgia, Ibarra was never taken into ICE custody.

The senators expressed their concerns about the tragic death of Laken Hope Riley, stating that it raises serious questions about the effectiveness of DHS in securing the homeland. They requested DHS to provide all documents and records related to Ibarra, as well as communications between DHS, CBP, ICE, and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding Ibarra.

The letter emphasized, "This tragedy raises serious questions about the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ability to effectively secure our homeland." The senators called for transparency and accountability in handling cases like Ibarra's to ensure public safety and protect American lives.

The senators set a deadline of March 25, 2024, for DHS to provide information including Ibarra's immigration status, criminal history, communication records, detention details, addresses provided upon entry to the U.S., and any asylum claims made by Ibarra. They also requested information on Ibarra's transit through other countries and interactions with law enforcement agencies.

The case of Jose Antonio Ibarra has sparked concerns among lawmakers about the need for stronger immigration enforcement and border security measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.