I really wish repubs wouldn't use Laken Riley’s death for political gain

Seeing as how her parent's wishes were for conservatives to stop using their daughter as political bait.

The father of Laken Riley, whom authorities suspect was murdered by an undocumented migrant in February, has objected to how he says his daughter’s death is “being used politically” ahead of the upcoming presidential and congressional elections.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was beaten to death on the University of Georgia’s campus on 22 February. Republicans have claimed Riley’s death represents a failure of the Joe Biden White House’s border policies and have used the killing to push legislation which would make it easier for law enforcement to detain unauthorized migrants accused of theft.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/18/laken-riley-father-statement

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M Best Comment

Sadly using corpses for political stunts is a GOP staple.

sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M

Riley, the namesake of the bill, was killed by Jose Ibarra, an immigrant without legal status first arrested in September 2022 on charges of illegal entry, outside Atlanta in February 2024. Her death fueled the immigration debate ahead of the 2024 elections.

"With today's action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country," Trump said before signing the bill. "And this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together. That's not easy to do."

After Trump spoke, Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, thanked Trump for supporting the bill.

"Our family will forever be grateful for the prayers of the people across our nation and for helping to get this legislation into law," she said. "[Trump] said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken, and he's a man of his word."

sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M

@SatanBurger Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act Wednesday afternoon as the president approves a series of initiatives meant to tackle his key goal of curbing illegal immigration.

The bill, which symbolically is the first bill Trump signed in his second term, requires that federal authorities detain immigrants who lack legal status and are accused of crimes, including several misdemeanor offenses, with the potential for deportation -- even before they are convicted.

"Today's signing is bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all," Trump said Wednesday.

The Republican wish list item was passed with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate and Trump campaigned heavily on curbing illegal immigration, using the death of Riley, a nursing student, as a centerpiece for immigration reform on the campaign trail.

Would you feel better if it was called the Jose Ibarra Act?