Alleged Gang Member Jose Ibarra Received Taxpayer-Funded Flight Before Murdering Nursing Student

Nov 18, 2024, 05:54 PM

Testimony in the trial of Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant and alleged member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, revealed that he received a taxpayer-funded 'humanitarian flight' from New York City's Roosevelt Hotel to Georgia before the alleged murder of 22-year-old nursing student, Laken Riley. Ibarra is accused of attacking and killing Riley while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February 2024. Prosecutors presented evidence indicating that Riley fought for her life for nearly 18 minutes, with Ibarra's DNA found under her fingernails and scratches visible on his body. An FBI agent testified that phone data places Ibarra near the scene of the crime, and surveillance footage allegedly shows him disposing of items with Riley's DNA. The trial has prompted political debate, with officials criticizing the Biden-Harris administration's immigration policies, including taxpayer-funded transportation, that allowed Ibarra to enter and move within the country.