A family’s worst nightmare. The loss of a child.
Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the Augusta University College of Nursing, was brutally murdered on February 22, 2024 while she was out for a run. According to NewsWeek writer Dan Gooding, running was a cherished hobby for Riley, and her daily trail took her through the University of Georgia’s Oconee Forest Park.
Although the murder took place earlier this year, the trial for her accused killer did not take place until November 20, due to ongoing legal procedures, including investigations. During the almost nine month period between her death and trial, the 2024 presidential campaign grew heated as Donald Trump, the presumptive and then official candidate for the republican party, and democratic President Joe Biden began their campaigns. You might think: what connection does a presidential election and a young woman’s death have?
The answer to this question involves the heated issue of immigration. The topic heavily drives political support and often contrasts significantly between the republican and democratic parties and politicians. Quickly, Riley’s case transformed into a political debate over undocumented immigration, with the republican party making connections between not just illegal immigrants, but all immigrants and violent crime.
All of this was due to the fact that the man arrested shortly after the killing(and found guilty for Riley’s murder on November 20) was 26-year-old Jose Ibarra, an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant. According to Kelly Risman, a writer for The Independent, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials stated that Ibarra entered the U.S in September 2022, crossing the U.S. Southern border between Mexico and El Paso, Texas. He resided in an apartment complex in Athens, Georgia, a five minute walk from the trail area where Riley was found. Risman reports that New York officials arrested and charged Ibarra in September of 2023 for a non-immigration related incident, but released him “before a detainer could be issued” by ICE.
On March 9, 2024, Trump supporters held a campaign rally in Rome, Georgia, where signs with images of Riley on them were prominent. Many of the signs read, “Say her name!” which had been a common rallying cry at Black Lives Matter rallies and protests after George Floyd’s death in 2020. Rallygoers exclaimed loudly that Biden didn’t properly handle immigration policies and border control, which had led to Riley’s murder.
While the Riley case became a political rallying point for republicans, the democratic party also spoke out about the tragic death, the killer, and the politicizing of it. On Thursday, March 7, two days before the rally in Rome, Georgia, Biden, during the State of the Union Address, stated, “To her parents I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself.” Biden’s comments at the State of the Union and afterwards remained sentimental, seeking to comfort the family in a challenging situation, which differed greatly from Trump and Trump supporters’ approach.
According to CNN writers Eric Levenson, Rebekah Riess and Holly Yan, Trump paid tribute to Riley on November 20 just moments after the verdict, writing on Truth Social, “We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you.” Trump praised the result of the trial and called out border policy, writing: “It is time to secure our border and remove these criminals and thugs from our country, so nothing like this can happen again!”
Riley’s murder continued to be a focal point for republicans throughout the presidential campaign, even as the democratic candidate switched from Biden to Vice-President Kamala Harris in August. Republicans argued that Harris was part of Biden’s administration and had been the “border czar” early in her tenure, which resulted in a porous southern border. While democrats tried to defend the administration’s record on immigration, Trump and republicans continued to focus on the case, believing it brought critical attention to one of the country’s most important policies.
Overall, the clash between the two parties in their statements on Riley’s case has led to questions about profiling, as the rally in Rome, Georgia and political advertising vilified immigrants amid claims that they commit a higher number of crimes. Alex Nowarstreh, vice president for Economic and Social Policy of the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank, writes on Vox, “Few people are murderers, and illegal immigrants are statistically less likely to be murderers.” His commentary addresses the stigma behind labeling all immigrants as “criminals”, an idea held by many who were vocal on this case. For the most part, Riley’s case has been connected to the Biden Administration and seen to be a result of policy failure, a fact emphasized by the republican party and Trump during the election. Ultimately, all that democrats have been able to do in response is claim that this is an overstatement and is misleading for the public.
Truthfully, Riley’s story is a tragic occurrence, which has shaken the lives of both her family, and an online community of runners. Now, those who run on trails all over the country take extra precautions, such as sharing locations and not contacting strangers they pass by, out of fear. UGA junior, Victoria Kota told Holly Yan of CNN, that she and other runners “ texted each other” and “shared locations” when they ran. She added, “I became really vigilant.” Riley’s love for running and spirit will always be remembered, shedding light on the need for personal safety and never giving up.
