Trump Meets Family of Laken Riley, Woman Whom Illegal Immigrant Is Accused of Killing
Backstage earlier than a Georgia rally with 4,000 folks, the previous president discovered in regards to the life that an unlawful immigrant is accused of taking.
Earlier than he publicly paid tribute to Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old pupil who was attacked and slain whereas jogging close to her Georgia nursing faculty, former President Donald Trump met backstage together with her mom, father, sister, and associates.
President Trump’s marketing campaign on March 11 launched an announcement and pictures confirming that he met with seven family members of Ms. Riley backstage upfront of his March 9 rally in Rome, Georgia.
From them, President Trump discovered that, “from the time she was within the first grade, Laken’s dream was to spend her life caring for others,” and “she was the brightest gentle in each room,” he mentioned throughout his speech.
An unlawful immigrant is accused of killing Ms. Riley on Feb. 22. Since then, her slaying has turn into a logo of the illegal-immigration disaster that President Trump and others blame on Democrat President Joe Biden’s insurance policies.
Each main presidential candidates have made public remarks about Ms. Riley’s loss of life throughout the previous few days; immigration stays a prime situation for a lot of American voters.
Her stepfather, John Phillips, wrote a be aware on the net fundraising web site, thanking folks for his or her donations and “overwhelming help.”
“Laken was an incredible daughter, sister, buddy and general particular person on the whole. Her love for the Lord was exemplified in each side of her life. She can be missed day-after-day, however we promise to honor her life transferring ahead in a really huge means,” he mentioned.
Police used surveillance digital camera footage to trace down a suspect within the assault on Ms. Riley in a park on the College of Georgia campus at Athens; she was enrolled at Augusta College’s nursing school close by.
Authorities recognized the suspect as Jose Ibarra, 26, a local of Venezuela who was allowed to remain within the U.S. after illegally coming into in 2022. Mr. Ibarra was jailed in Athens, Georgia, on a number of prices stemming from Ms. Riley’s loss of life, together with homicide, assault, and kidnapping.
In his March 9 speech, President Trump characterised Mr. Ibarra as “an unlawful alien felony” whom President Biden “deliberately launched into our nation,” together with tens of 1000’s extra like him.
“Biden has applied a proper coverage that unlawful aliens who intrude into america are granted immunity from deportation,” President Trump mentioned, including that he has nicknamed this coverage “free to kill.”
President Trump and others chided President Biden for getting Ms. Riley’s title improper, calling her “Lincoln,” as a substitute of “Laken.”
President Biden additionally drew hearth from progressives as a result of he referred to the suspect as “an unlawful;” he later mentioned that he ought to have used the time period “undocumented” as a substitute.
![Trump supporters hold up signs featuring Laken Riley at a rally in Rome, Ga. on March 9, 2024 (T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F03%2F10%2Fid5604380-IMG_8681-1200x900.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![Laken Riley's parents, Jason Riley (C) and Allyson Philips attend Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally at the Forum River Center in Rome, Ga., on March 9, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F03%2F12%2Fid5605596-GettyImages-2072039176-1200x800.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Two days later, at President Trump’s rally at The Discussion board in Rome, Georgia, most of the 4,000 attendees held posters with Ms. Riley’s image on it and the phrases, “Say Her Identify.”
President Trump addressed Ms. Riley’s family members within the viewers, saying, “We share your grief.”
He added: “We vow to maintain Laken’s reminiscence alive for so long as we’re right here on this Earth and we take consolation that she is now residence with God in Heaven. And I need to thanks for being right here. Unbelievable. I understand how powerful it’s.”
President Trump mentioned Ms. Riley’s loss of life strengthened his resolve to clamp down on unlawful immigration and “I promise you I’ll demand justice for Laken.”