The White House would not say whether President Biden will address Laken Riley at State of the Union

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The White House on Tuesday would not say whether President Biden plans to speak about Laken Riley’s homicide – allegedly at the palms of an unlawful immigrant – throughout his upcoming State of the Union address.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing scholar at Augusta University, was killed whereas jogging on trails round the University of Georgia campus. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan nationwide who was dwelling illegally in the United States, has been charged in her homicide, which has sparked nationwide outrage and provoked renewed criticism of Biden’s border insurance policies. 

Asked by Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy whether Biden deliberate to address Riley’s loss of life throughout his State of the Union speech Thursday evening, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned she had nothing to share about the president’s speech associated to that matter. 

“This is such a tragic story and, obviously, situation. This is someone’s life that was lost. So I do want to always acknowledge and extend our deepest condolences to her family and to her friends and the people who loved her,” Jean-Pierre mentioned. 

JIM BANKS CALLS ON BIDEN TO ‘PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE’ LAKEN RILEY AT SOTU

Biden in the Oval Office

President Biden in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday, March 1, 2024. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg through Getty Images)

She famous that Biden not too long ago traveled to Brownsville, Texas, to go to the southern border and repeated the White House’s assault line on Republicans for opposing a bipartisan deal that would have elevated border safety funding and tightened guidelines for asylum-seekers. Republicans who oppose the measure say the deal would have normalized excessive ranges of unlawful immigration. 

Riley’s loss of life has grow to be a political rallying cry for Republicans, who argue each crime dedicated by unlawful aliens might have been prevented had been the border safe. 

GOP CONGRESSMAN INTRODUCES ‘LAKEN RILEY ACT’ TO REQUIRE ICE TO DETAIN MIGRANTS ARRESTED FOR THEFT

Laken Riley smiles wearing a brown top

Laken Riley poses for a photograph posted to Facebook. Riley, a nursing scholar, was discovered lifeless close to a lake on the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22, 2024. (Laken Riley/Facebook)

Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., on Monday introduced laws, the Laken Riley Act, that would require ICE to detain unlawful immigrants who’re charged with native theft or housebreaking. Ibarra had been cited in a shoplifting incident earlier than he was launched and went on to allegedly kill Riley. 

Republican Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., on Monday penned a letter to Biden, calling on him to acknowledge Riley’s loss of life throughout the State of the Union address. 

MOM OF TEXAS TEEN ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY ILLEGAL SUSPECT CALLS FOR CHANGE AFTER LAKEN RILEY MURDER

Jose Antonio Ibarra Mugshot

Jose Ibarra was arrested on Feb. 23 in reference to Laken Riley’s Feb. 22 homicide in Athens, Georgia. (Clarke County Sheriff’s Office)

“As Commander-in-Chief, it is your duty to protect American citizens, and this tragedy highlights the urgent need to address the surge in crime resulting from your negligence at our southern border,” Banks wrote.

“Your failure to publicly acknowledge this tragedy is unacceptable,” he added.

Last week, the White House supplied an announcement to Fox News Digital relating to Riley’s loss of life. “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laken Hope Riley,” a spokesperson mentioned. “People should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty. Given this is an active case, we would have to refer you to state law enforcement and ICE.”

Biden, himself, has not addressed the loss of life of Riley, regardless of being requested throughout a press convention if he bears any duty for it following a speech final week. 

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Ibarra, who lived inside a five-minute stroll of the approximate crime scene, is charged with malice homicide, felony homicide, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 name and concealing the loss of life of one other.

Ibarra entered the United States by the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022 and was freed on border parole. He initially lived in New York City earlier than transferring to Athens. 

Fox News’ Julia Johnson, Aubrie Spady and Thomas Phippen contributed to this report.

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