ICE confirms alarming details about the immigrant charged with murdering Georgia college student: 'Released by the NYPD'

Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed on Sunday that the immigrant arrested for allegedly murdering a Georgia college student was arrested — then quickly released — in New York City last fall.

On Friday, police arrested Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan immigrant, and charged him with murdering 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University. Riley was attacked Thursday while she was running on the University of Georgia's campus in Athens. Police do not believe Ibarra knew Riley; rather, they believe the attack was a "crime of opportunity."

The shocking incident has ignited nationwide outrage and questions about whether it could have been prevented.

Now we know that Ibarra was no stranger to law enforcement or immigration officials.

In a statement, ICE confirmed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection first arrested Ibarra on Sept. 8, 2022, after he illegally entered the U.S. near El Paso. But he "was paroled and released for further processing."

One year later on Sept. 14, 2023, police in New York City arrested Ibarra and charged him with "acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation." Despite the nature of the charges, New York City — a "sanctuary city" — quickly released Ibarra back onto the streets.

"He was released by the NYPD before a detainer could be issued," ICE said.

Eventually, ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Atlanta was able to lodge a detainer for Ibarra — but only after his arrest for Riley's murder.

Police have charged Ibarra with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.

The atrocious incident, meanwhile, is drawing more attention to the border crisis and President Joe Biden's failures to address the problem.

When police were searching for Ibarra, they located his brother, Diego Ibarra, who allegedly presented authorities with a fake green card. He was then arrested. It turns out that Diego Ibarra, who entered the U.S. after his brother, has already been arrested multiple times in the U.S., including for driving under the influence, shoplifting, and failing to appear in court, WSB-TV reported.

"Every state is now a border state because of Joe Biden's inaction," Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said.

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