REVEALED: Illegal immigrant asylum seeker charged in Laken Riley’s murder is an ‘active member’ of Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, released into US by ICE: report

Despite breaking the law on countless occasions upon entering the United States and allegedly being a member of the infamous Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, 26-year-old Jose Ibarra faced few repercussions.

According to an investigation by the New York Post, Ibarra first crossed the border into the United States via El Paso, Texas with his girlfriend and her son in September 2022. After less than 24 hours in detention, however, he was released on parole on account of there simply not being enough space for him in the facility. ICE sources told the outlet that Ibarra is an "active member" of the Venezuelan gang.

Ibarra was one of the many illegal immigrants who were bussed out of the small Texas city to reduce overcrowding; he listed his destination address as New York City, and that's where he went.

In October 2022, ICE scheduled his check in appointment for October 24, 2024, but the following April it was postponed until December.

In May 2023, Ibarra and his girlfriend "got married" to increase their chances of being accepted as a family in the asylum process, and he filed for a work permit, doing odd jobs and working at a restaurant.

He was arrested three months later after police discovered him riding his moped with his helmetless child on the back but was promptly released.

In November 2023, Ibarra and his girlfriend split up, and he moved to Athens, Georgia, where he and his brother, also an illegal immigrant suspected of being a gang member, went on to be arrested for stealing from Walmart a month later. He was released, and began working at the University of Georgia after presenting a fake Green Card.

On February 22, Riley's body was found on campus, and the following day, Ibarra was arrested. He was subsequently charged with felonies of malice murder, murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and concealing the death of another, as well as a misdemeanor charge of physically hindering a 911 call.

Following her death, a bill named the "Laken Riley Act" was passed by the House. It would allow ICE to deport any illegal immigrant found to have committed certain crimes, including theft.