Palmetto State News

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has issued a statement following the guilty verdict of Jose Ibarra for the murder of Laken Riley. According to Graham, "The court has spoken. Jose Ibarra has been found guilty of brutally murdering Laken Riley. The evidence is overwhelming."

Graham expressed concerns about immigration policies under the Biden Administration, highlighting that Ibarra was previously in U.S. custody as an illegal immigrant but was released due to lack of detention space. "His release violated the parole statute and set in motion the death of Laken Riley," Graham stated.

The senator criticized the current administration's handling of immigration, attributing increased criminal activity to these policies: "The system created by President Biden and his team has been a lethal disaster for the American people."

As Budget Committee Chairman, Graham pledged to support measures that would enhance border security and deportation efforts, stating, "I will do everything in my power...to secure our border and immediately deport those in our country illegally."

In response to this incident, Senators Graham and Katie Britt have proposed the Laken Riley Act. This legislation aims to mandate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain illegal aliens who commit specific crimes until their removal from the United States is secured. However, attempts to pass this act have faced opposition in the Senate.