The parents of a nurrsing student killed on her morning run allegedly by an undocumented migrant have declined an invitation to the State of the Union address, according to the House representative that invited them.
22-year-old Laken Riley, who had been a nursing student at the University of Georgia in Athens, was brutally murdered last month as she was out for her usual morning run. Law enforcement believe the suspect to be Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, an undocumented migrant living about a mile away from where her body was discovered.
Laken Riley's parents were invited to Biden's speech by Georgia Rep. Mike Collins (R), who revealed in a post to X that they had declined his invitation.
I invited Laken Riley’s parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter.
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) March 6, 2024
Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien…
Authorities later revealed that the suspect in question had previously been apprehended, and then released on parole by the US Border Patrol on Sept. 8, 2022, in a process the agency applies when overwhelmed with migrants.
Ibarra's police record shows he had at least two run-ins with law enforcement. One for illegally driving a scooter in New York without a license and the other in connection to a shoplifting case in Georgia.
He now stands charged with felony murder, kidnapping, and false imprisonment.
Guests are invited to the State of the Union address by lawmakers who aim to bolster a political cause or make a statement.
Riley's death has escalated already heightened tensions over the issue of border security among conservatives.
"As Joe Biden attempts to paint a rosy picture of the crime-ridden country he has created, he will look up at an empty seat that memorializes those we've lost because of his open border policies," Collins added.
President Biden is anticipated to address the immigration arguments in his speech Thursday, among other highlighting issues.
Several polls indicate that immigration and border control is a major concern for voters and ultimately a liability for Biden as the Nov. 5 presidential election nears.
Republicans' decision to reject a bipartisan Senate border reform package last month allowed Biden and his party to build upon this point, as Democrats see the decision as a way to deter GOP attacks on the border crisis.
Biden's party has accused the GOP of pushing boundaries when it comes to former President Donald Trump and his determination to defeat Biden.
Collins took to social media platform X to reveal, "I invited Laken Riley's parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter."
"Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime," he said.
Riley's parents are not alone in refusing the invitation. Ukraine first lady Olena Zelenska, and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, are among a handful who have declined to attend.
