Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, along with Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Rick Scott, Josh Hawley, and Roger Marshall, have sent a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting additional information on Jose Antonio Ibarra, who is facing charges related to the murder of Augusta University student Laken Hope Riley. The letter highlights Ibarra's previous encounters with law enforcement and his release into the country through parole after being apprehended by CBP near El Paso, Texas in 2022.

The senators expressed concerns about the tragic death of Laken Hope Riley and raised questions about the Department of Homeland Security's ability to effectively secure the homeland. They emphasized the need for DHS to provide all documents and records related to Ibarra, as well as communications with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding the case.

In the letter addressed to Secretary Mayorkas, the senators stated, "The failure to remove an individual who consistently demonstrated a clear disregard for U.S. laws, despite numerous opportunities to do so, highlights a risk to public safety and poses a threat to American lives."

The senators requested the information by March 25, 2024, citing the urgency of the situation and the implications for national security. The full letter to Secretary Mayorkas can be accessed on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs website.