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.
“I’d rather her not be such a political – how you say – it started a storm in our country,” Jason Riley, Laken’s father, told NBC’s Today show.
He added: “It’s incited a lot of people.”
Jason Riley said that since his daughter was killed, “there’s people on both sides that have lashed out at [his and Laken’s mother’s] families”.
Investigators have charged José Ibarra with Riley’s murder. The 26-year-old, who is originally from Venezuela, had previously been charged with two crimes in New York before being released, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said, although officials in the state told the Associated Press they had no record of Ibarra being previously arrested.
“I think it’s being used politically to get those votes,” Jason Riley said of his daughter’s death.
“It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, they’re just using my daughter’s name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is. She was an angel.”
Biden mentioned Laken Riley in his State of the Union address but was criticized in some political quarters for using the word “illegal” to describe her killer. The term has long been seen as dehumanizing and unhelpful language for describing undocumented migrants.
The president later expressed regret for describing Ibarra as “an illegal”, which in turn ignited another round of criticism against him from other political quarters.
Donald Trump is among the Republicans who has attempted to link Biden to Riley’s death. During a rally in March, where the former president seeking another term in the White House was joined by Riley’s parents, sister and friends, Trump said Laken “would be alive today” were it not for Democrats’ policies.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
