The tragic death of Laken Riley in 2024, coupled with the surging illegal immigration crisis, ignited a renewed sense of urgency in Georgia to take decisive action.
Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, became a symbol of the risks posed by illegal immigration when she was brutally attacked and murdered on the University of Georgia campus by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant and is a reported member of a Venezuelan gang.
The details of the case are deeply disturbing: Ibarra entered the United States illegally, was initially sent to New York City and then was transported to Georgia on a taxpayer-funded flight. In Georgia, he was arrested for shoplifting — a charge that should have led to his immediate detention and eventual deportation. Instead, he was allowed to roam free until he ended the life of an innocent young Georgian.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
In response to this crime, the Georgia General Assembly took quick action, passing legislation requiring local law enforcement to detain criminal illegal immigrants until they can be handed over to federal authorities. This legislation sent a clear message: Georgia will not serve as a sanctuary for criminal illegal immigrants.
This isn’t the first time Georgia has taken a firm stance against illegal immigration. Back in 2011, the state passed one of the most comprehensive state-level immigration laws in the nation, making it more difficult to illegally hire individuals without proper documentation. The law sought to address the problem at the local level, where illegal immigration has had the most significant impact.
However, state-level action can only go so far. The problem of illegal immigration is a federal issue, and no state can solve it on its own.
Unfortunately, under the Biden administration, this crisis escalated exponentially.
The United States experienced among the highest percentages of illegal immigration during any four-year period in our history, with more than 60% of new immigrants entering the country illegally during Biden’s time in office. The border chaos has not only led to a dramatic increase in border crossings but has also created a massive strain on state and local resources, from law enforcement to health care to education.
Building off Georgia’s bold legislative actions, Congress recently passed the Laken Riley Act, which requires a stronger partnership between state and federal authorities to address illegal immigration and its consequences. This new law, which was the first signed into law by President Donald Trump in his new term, is a fitting tribute to Riley’s memory. Her tragic death incited long overdue federal action to combat illegal immigration and protect all Americans.
Riley’s story is a reminder of the painful human cost of the Biden immigration crisis, but also underscores the need for meaningful reform.
Thanks to Trump’s leadership, Georgia and other states finally have a federal partner serious about protecting our border and enforcing our immigration laws.
The Biden administration’s failures to stop the historic flood of immigration didn’t stem from mere incompetence. Biden’s reckless rhetoric during the 2020 campaign sent a signal to the world that America would become a welcome mat for illegal immigration when he took office.
That was one campaign promise he certainly kept.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris famously avoided going to the actual border. On the rare occasion when Americans heard the Biden administration speak about illegal immigration, it was to condemn and obstruct common sense efforts like those in Texas to erect border fencing.
That is changing now.
On the campaign trail, Trump was direct with the American people. He promised to arrest and send home illegal immigrants, prioritizing the deportation of criminals and those who are threats to national security.
The president’s job is to enforce laws on the books — and that’s exactly what is happening today.
Across the nation and here in metro Atlanta, criminals who are in our country illegally are being taken into custody and removed from our streets. As a former felony prosecutor, I know without a doubt that Americans are safer now than we were three weeks ago.
The transparency of these federal operations fulfills Americans’ right to know what their government is doing, but the breadth also sends a clear signal here and abroad: Don’t come to the United States illegally or there will be serious consequences.
The goal isn’t endless raids; it’s to end the need for raids by restoring our nation’s greatest treasure — the rule of law.
Each generation of Americans has welcomed waves of immigrants who came to our country legally in search of a brighter future. The United States still offers that promise, but, under Trump’s leadership, we will do it on terms and timelines that adhere to our duly passed laws.
Chuck Efstration is the majority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives.
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