Lafayette Reporter

Washington - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La), along with all other Republican members of the Judiciary Committee, have called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide answers regarding the parole status of Venezuelan national Jose Antonio Ibarra, the suspect in the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley.

In a letter addressed to Mayorkas, the senators expressed their concerns, stating, "We are deeply saddened by this senseless and preventable act of violence, and we write today demanding answers about how Ibarra was allowed to enter and remain in the United States."

Citing the Immigration and Nationality Act, the senators emphasized that immigration parole should only be granted on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefits. They further noted their previous concerns about the volume of parole determinations made by DHS annually.

"We demand that you show us your work. No later than March 8th, please provide us with a copy of the case file for Jose Antonio Ibarra, including the record showing what urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit justified the decision to grant him parole," the senators concluded.

The full letter can be accessed here.