Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated on Sunday that the suspect involved in the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, had previous arrests, and the federal government was not informed about them.
Mayorkas stated on “Face the Nation” on Sunday that levels of cooperation vary among different cities. He added that they were not informed in this particular instance.
Jose Ibarra, the suspect in the murder of Riley, a Georgia nursing student, is an undocumented Venezuelan migrant. He was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after entering the country with temporary permission to stay. According to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, he allegedly committed two offenses in New York and Georgia.
Mayorkas emphasized the close collaboration between the federal government and state and local law enforcement in prioritizing the detention and removal of individuals who pose a threat to public safety. However, he acknowledged that there are varying levels of cooperation with immigration authorities in different locations.
Mayorkas emphasized the importance of cities sharing information about individuals who pose a threat to public safety. He stated, “If a city is aware of such individuals, we firmly believe that they should provide us with that information. This will enable us to take appropriate action, including detaining the individual if necessary.”
Immigration has become a key topic in the political discourse, with Republicans criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border. The recent death of Riley and the suspect’s migrant status have been used by Republicans as an example of the White House’s failures in border security. Both parties have expressed their support for stronger border measures. Recently, President Biden and former President Donald Trump made visits to Texas border towns, highlighting the significance of the issue in the upcoming 2024 election.
A recent CBS News/YouGov poll, published on Sunday, reveals that Trump is currently leading President Biden by a significant margin of four points nationally. This marks his largest lead to date, with 52% of respondents favoring Trump compared to 48% for Biden.
According to the latest polls, Trump has a clear edge over Biden when it comes to the issue of the border. A staggering 50% of voters believe that Biden’s policies contribute to the increase in the number of migrants attempting to cross the southern border. In contrast, only 9% feel the same way about Trump’s policies. These numbers highlight Trump’s advantage in this particular area and suggest that voters are more likely to attribute the current border situation to Biden’s policies.
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