Jason Riley, Laken Riley’s father, spoke in the Georgia State Senate on Wednesday during an event honoring his memory.
The Senate passed a resolution citing the Augusta University nursing student’s accomplishments before her untimely death last month, according to WAGA-TV in Atlanta.
Laken Riley was kidnapped and killed Feb. 22 while jogging at the University of Georgia in Athens.
José Antonio Ibarra, who is allegedly in the country illegally, has been arrested and charged with her death.
Ibarra’s killing and arrest fueled debate not only in the state of Georgia but across the nation over illegal immigration, the newspaper reported.
Jason Riley said his daughter’s murder left him “heartbroken.”
“I stand before you, a broken-hearted man,” he said. “Part of my purpose has been taken. God has given me a beautiful daughter to father, protect, provide for, and nurture.
“A man with an evil heart stole her life,” he added, apparently referring to Ibarra. “He was in this country and state illegally. My vision for every senator in this House is that you protect citizens from this illegal invasion.”
Ibarra was arrested on Feb. 23, the day after Laken Riley’s murder, and remains in the Athens-Clarke County Jail, having been denied bail.
“Ibarra, originally from Venezuela, entered the country illegally in 2022 and was living in Athens,” WAGA reported. “He has been charged with manslaughter, criminal homicide, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, obstructing a 911 call and concealing the death of another.
“An autopsy showed that Riley died from blunt force trauma to the head,” the outlet added.
You can watch Jason Riley deliver his full statement to the state Senate below.
Senator Colton Moore stands with Laken Riley’s father Jason who asked Governor Kemp to declare an illegal invasion after the illegal migrant was accused of killing his daughter pic.twitter.com/O9AIOO58SQ
— WhatmattersinGeorgia (@WhatmattersinG) March 21, 2024
Jason Riley blamed government policies for allowing illegal immigrants to enter the country and then allowing them to stay, especially in Athens, which has called itself a so-called “sanctuary city.”
“Please recognize that there are more than a million illegal aliens in this state who make families nervous,” he said. “Please recognize that Athens-Clarke is a sanctuary city. And this policy and lack of action led to the murder of my daughter.”
Riley said some Georgia state lawmakers are working on “a solution to protect us” and thanked them for it, but said more needs to be done.
“Governor Kemp, please declare an invasion to detain and deport illegal criminals so we can prevent future families from experiencing those tragedies,” Riley said. “Hundreds of women and children are smuggled, coerced and trafficked into our state every month. There are victims, just like Laken. I thank you for honoring Laken in this way and humbly ask that you do more to protect us.”
WAGA noted that authorities have not said why Laken Riley was killed.
This article originally appeared in The Western Journal.