The suspect in the case, Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant, has been accused of the crime. However, Mayorkas did not acknowledge that Ibarra should not have been permitted entry into the United States.
This statement sparked criticism from numerous conservative figures, including Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson argued that if the federal government had fulfilled its responsibilities appropriately, Riley would still be alive. "Her killer should NOT have been allowed to enter the country and if the Administration had stopped him and turned him around as they should have, Laken Riley would be alive today," Johnson stated in a post on X.
During the interview, Margaret Brennan, the host of Face the Nation, questioned Mayorkas about the broader issue of "migrant crime," but particularly focused on the case of Riley. Brennan highlighted that Ibarra had been detained by Border Patrol upon entry into the country and was subsequently released with temporary permission to stay. She added that Ibarra had allegedly committed two crimes, one in New York for driving a scooter without a license, and another in Georgia in relation to a shoplifting case. Brennan asked Mayorkas if the states and their law enforcement had communicated these incidents to the federal government and whether Ibarra should have been deported.
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Mayorkas, after consulting his notes, expressed his condolences to Riley's family, describing her murder as a "tragedy." He then responded, "One individual is responsible for the murder," he said, "and that is the murderer."
Mayorkas did not concede that the federal government bore any responsibility for allowing Ibarra to enter and remain in the country illegally, even after his alleged crimes. Instead, he suggested that sanctuary states and cities should bear the blame for not adequately communicating with immigration officials about the potential threat posed by Ibarra.
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Ibarra was apprehended shortly after the discovery of Riley's body near a lake on February 22. He faces multiple charges, including malice murder, murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and concealing the death of another. He has also been charged with a misdemeanor for physically hindering a 911 call.
