ICE says Georgia murder suspect's brother was previously arrested, but detainers were ignored

 The brother of the suspect accused of murdering Georgia student Laken Riley was arrested multiple times in Athens, Georgia in 2023, but ignored requests to detain him, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Thursday. I went.

Venezuelan citizen Diego Ibarra was arrested last week and charged with green card fraud.

Her younger brother, Jose, has been charged with malicious murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, obstructing a 911 call and concealing the death of another in the killing of Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student. ,

Laken Riley murder suspect's brother fired from job at UGA dining hall after presenting fake green card

Jose Ibarra is accused of killing Riley while she was jogging on Feb. 22 on a popular pedestrian loop around Lake Herrick on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. Two Venezuelan brothers were living in the United States illegally. ICE confirmed Jose's illegal status earlier this week.

In a statement Thursday, ICE said Diego Ibarra first entered the U.S. near Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 3, 2023, but was removed through the COVID-era Title 42 process. He re-entered on April 30 and was enrolled in an "alternative to detention", whereby migrants are monitored through GPS tracking upon release.

Uga murder suspect's brother accused of green card fraud

He was released on May 12, 2023, but was kicked out of the program on May 25 due to abnormalities in his GPS tracking device. Enrollees can be tracked in several ways, including a bracelet or cell phone app. Last year, the administration pushed for a reduction in ICE detention beds and more funding for ATDs, but is now pushing for more detention beds.

The ICE statement said many of their arrests occurred in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, but that people held in ICE custody request that ICE be notified when an illegal immigrant is to be transferred to ICE custody. Being released - was not respected.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department told Fox News Digital it is not responsible for ICE notifications and does not have access to immigration status. It said it is instead handled by the Clark County Jail and directed Fox to the Clark County Sheriff's Office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why those detained were not honored. Went.

The revelation comes a day after Athens Mayor Kelly Gertz repeatedly rejected the characterization that Athens is a "sanctuary" city.

"There is no legislation from this government that would grant sanctuary city status," he said.

White House calls on sanctuary cities to cooperate with ICE amid uproar over illegal immigrant crimes

Fox reported this week that Diego Ibarra was fired from the University of Georgia after it was revealed he presented a fake green card to work in the school's dining hall.

"Diego Ibarra submitted a fake green card to the recruiting unit to begin a temporary position as a dishwasher in the University of Georgia's Bolton Dining Hall on February 6, 2024," UGA spokesperson Greg Trevor told Fox News Digital in a statement. Did."

After Diego then "failed to submit the required documentation to keep the job and was never paid by the university," Trevor continued, he was "fired."

The White House issued a statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday calling on local governments to work with ICE on deporting violent criminals.

"We look forward to supporting local law enforcement in apprehending and removing individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety," a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Wednesday in response to a question about its stance on sanctuary cities. And welcome cooperation.”

“When a local jurisdiction has information about someone who may pose a threat to public safety, we want them to share that information with ICE.

"Just since May 12, DHS has removed or turned away more than 565,000 people, the majority of whom crossed the southwest border. (565,000) removals and returns have been the highest in each full fiscal year since 2013. is greater than."