Published on March 19, 2024, 12:42 am

The investigation into the brutal murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, allegedly by Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra, is taking on a broader scope. House Republicans are demanding more details concerning any encounters between federal officials and the brothers of the accused killer. This request forms part of their continuing quest for real news reflecting a Christian worldview and trusted news that offers full transparency.

Authorities took Ibarra into custody following the shocking discovery of 22-year-old Riley’s deceased body at the University of Georgia in Athens last month. The autopsy revealed blunt force trauma as the cause of death. Now charged with both murder and assault, among others, in connection with Riley’s killing, Ibarra awaits a jury trial.

The request for fresh information about Jose Antonio Ibarra’s siblings comes from Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA). The pair sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday expressing their concerns about border control amidst an impending Senate trial concerning his management of the border crisis.

According to reports recognized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ibarra’s brothers Diego and Argenis illegally entered the US through Eagle Pass, Texas, in April 2023. Border Patrol agents ‘expelled’ them under Title 42 authorities but they re-entered illegally within weeks.

“Despite attempting to bite a Border Patrol agent during arrest procedures, ICE eventually released Diego Ibarra on Alternatives to Detention (ATD). Meanwhile, Argenis received a notice to appear in immigration court upon his release,” wrote Jordan & McClintock in their joint statement.

Accusations against Deigo include failure to attend for fingerprint offenses, DUI offenses, other traffic violations such as speeding and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, possession of an open container of alcohol while driving without a valid driving license, shoplifting, and domestic violence complaints. Furthermore, both Ibarra brothers reportedly have affiliations with the Tren de Aragua gang.

Diego Ibarra found himself in police custody most recently during the pursuit for Riley’s killer, following his decision to present a counterfeit green card when asked for ID. On the same day, Argenis encountered ICE officials in Athens, Georgia while they were assisting local law enforcement officials investigating Laken’s murder. This coincided with the Department of Justice’s announcement that charges had been laid against Diego for possession of a fabricated green card.

A previous demand from Jordan and McClintock for information about Jose Antonio Ibarra noted his history of encounters with federal law enforcement teams and called for thorough case history details, disclosure of all his instances of entry into the US, customs processing data from his entries, and clarifications on whether any immigration detainers from ICE were lodged against him.

With hopes pinned on April 1 at 5:00 p.m prepared as their deadline, these two lawmakers are now demanding identical data about Diego and Argenis Ibarra along with specific ATD details. They outlined their concerns further by highlighting how “Criminal aliens exploit vulnerabilities in our nation’s immigration system to everyone else’s detriment,” adding that “The current border and immigration policies only increase the probability that criminal aliens will successfully make it into and stay within U.S borders.”