During speech, Ga. congressman to keep seat open to honor Laken Riley

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A U.S. representative from Georgia intends to honor a nursing student killed on the University of Georgia campus by keeping an open seat during the State of the Union address.

Laken Riley was allegedly killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a man from Venezuela. Officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Ibarra illegally entered the United States near El Paso, Texas in 2022.

Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) invited Riley’s parents to the speech, according to his office. Her parents declined and Collins said that he will keep the seat empty.

MORE FROM NEWS 12:

Collins said that the President “will see an empty seat in the gallery that memorializes those who are no longer with us because of his open border.”

Senators, representatives and other officials often use guest invitations to the State of the Union as a way to highlight issues.

Collins has latched on Riley’s killing as a cause celebre after her death on Feb. 23. The freshman representative represents Athens in Congress.

Collins introduced the “Laken Riley Act,” which would require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft in the U.S. The Georgia General Assembly is also considering a bill that would require local law enforcement to apply to help federal agents enforce immigration laws and enact criminal penalties for sheriffs who don’t federal officials to check prisoners’ immigration status.

Ibarra is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.