Suspect in UGA Nursing Student Murder Previously Arrested for Illegal Entry into US, Released by ICE

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The suspect in the tragic killing of 22-year-old nursing student, Laken Hope Riley, on the University of Georgia campus this week, has a troubling history of illegal entry into the United States. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national, was arrested and subsequently released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after unlawfully entering the US near El Paso, Texas in 2022.

Ibarra now faces serious charges including malice and felony murder in connection with the death of Riley, who was discovered lifeless on the UGA campus on Thursday.

According to an ICE spokesperson, Ibarra was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on September 8, 2022, for illegally crossing the border near El Paso. Shockingly, he was paroled and released for further processing.

Further adding to the gravity of the situation, Ibarra was arrested by the New York Police Department on September 14, 2023, and charged with harming a child under 17 and a motor vehicle license violation. However, before a detainer could be issued, he was once again released.

In a disturbing turn of events, Jose Antonio Ibarra was detained by authorities on Friday, with his brother, Diego Ibarra, also facing legal action for possession of a counterfeit green card.

Diego Ibarra’s fraudulent actions came to light when he used the fake green card to secure a temporary position as a dishwasher at Bolton Dining Hall in February. His tenure was short-lived as he failed to provide the necessary documentation to retain the job and was subsequently terminated without receiving any payment from the university.

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