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Illegal alien charged with murder of Laken Riley easily crossed into U.S. despite ties to Venezuelan gang: report

March 8, 2024 | | Print Article

The alleged killer of Laken Riley had no trouble entering the U.S. illegally even though he had suspected ties to the bloody Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.

Jose Ibarra was reportedly waved across the US border and wasn’t required to check in with authorities until he had been here for two years according to the New York Post.

Authorities claim that both Ibarra and his brother Diego have ties to the vicious Tren de Aragua gang. The Venezuelan was originally busted for illegally entering the U.S. in September 2022 in El Paso, Texas with his girlfriend, Layling Franco, and her 5-year-old son. He wasn’t in custody long. Less than 24 hours later, Ibarra was released on parole due to lack of detention capacity according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement insiders.

He traveled to New York City and took up residence in a shelter with his wife and son. At one point, he was arrested in the Big Apple but was released there as well. Ibarra then fled to Georgia where his brother was awaiting his arrival. The brother had also entered the country illegally but cut off his ankle monitor to evade authorities. He has visible gang tattoos on his face and neck.

(Video Credit: NewsNation)

“Diego had attempted to enter the country in April that year but was immediately deported. Less than a month later, he had a fight with border officers as he attempted to re-enter the country, his arrest report states,” the New York Post wrote.

“Despite a physical fight and attempting to bite an officer, Diego cut a deal with the feds and amazingly was allowed into the country with an ankle monitor. He promptly cut the device off in Littleton, Colorado, according to the report, then went to Georgia,” the media outlet added.

Ibarra’s girlfriend told authorities that they “got married so we could join our asylum cases” in order to increase their chances of success as a family unit. They split before he headed for Georgia.

Authorities had multiple opportunities to get the suspected killer off the streets. Nursing student Laken Riley’s murder appears to have been wholly avoidable but because of President Biden’s open border policies, Jose Ibarra was left to roam free.

Jose Ibarra obtained a work permit and worked for DoorDash, Uber Eats, and a local restaurant in May 2023.

In September 2023, Diego Ibarra was arrested for DUI and driving without a license. In October, both brothers were arrested for stealing from a Walmart. In December, when they failed to report in after being released, warrants were issued for their arrest.

At the time, Diego Ibarra briefly worked for the University of Georgia, using a false green card as identification.

On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley failed to come home after going for a run near the campus. Her body was found later that day along a jogging path. According to authorities, she died from blunt force trauma to her head.

The next day Jose Ibarra was arrested for her murder. He was charged with concealing the death of another, false imprisonment, felony murder, malice murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery. Video footage put him at the scene of the crime.

(Video Credit: Law&Order Network)

That same day, Diego got a visit from officers. He was arrested after handing over a fake green card and now faces up to ten years in prison for it.

“An arrest report for Diego Ibarra shows he has the distinctive tattoos of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, including a ‘five-point crown on the left side of his neck and a five-pointed stars on the right side of his neck,’ according to documents filed Wednesday at the US Middle District of Georgia,” the New York Post reported.

There are also pictures on social media showing Diego Ibarra posing with guns and throwing gang signs.

According to ICE sources who spoke with the New York Post, “Jose Ibarra is also listed as ‘an active member’ of Tren de Aragua.”

Jose Ibarra is reportedly not attempting to post bond and neither brother has entered a plea for their respective cases.

The murder of Laken Riley by an illegal immigrant has incensed the nation. Despite the rage over her life being taken by someone who should never have been here in the first place, President Biden refused to say the nursing student’s name.

At the State of the Union on Thursday, Biden attempted to use the girl’s name and gaffed as usual.

“President Biden stunned listeners Thursday as he veered from his highly partisan State of the Union address script to call out Georgia nursing student Laken Riley’s murder last month by an illegal immigrant — erring twice by calling her ‘Lincoln,'” the New York Post reported.

That happened just hours after the House passed legislation in Riley’s honor that mandates migrants who commit certain crimes be remanded to federal custody.

The president held up a pin bearing Riley’s name, which Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) had given him as he entered the chamber. Biden told her, “I know how to say her name.”

“Lincoln — Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal,” Biden stated.

“That’s right, but how many of the thousands of people being killed by illegals —” he began as Greene heckled him.

“To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand,” Biden said once again invoking his son’s death while failing to address illegal immigration and blaming it on Republicans.

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