In a shocking revelation, an undocumented immigrant accused of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has been identified as an active member of a Venezuelan gang.
Jose Ibarra, who entered the United States illegally in 2022, has been linked to the El Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, according to sources from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who shared this information with The New York Post.
Ibarra, now 26, arrived in the U.S. with his girlfriend and their 5-year-old son. He had been released into the country after being apprehended by Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, in August 2022. Despite his illegal entry, he was told to meet with ICE agents on October 24, 2024, more than two years after his arrival. However, the scheduled meeting was subsequently deferred to December 2024 by ICE.
Court documents filed in the U.S. Middle District of Georgia reveal Ibarra’s affiliation with the TdA gang through his tattoos. The symbols include weapons, stars, clocks, trains, five-pointed crowns, and the dollar sign, all common among TdA members. Notably, Ibarra has a five-pointed crown tattoo on the left side of his neck and five-pointed stars on the right side. A teardrop tattoo under his right eye is also mentioned, a symbol often associated with gangs and gang culture.
In addition to his gang affiliation, Ibarra has had several run-ins with the law. He was arrested in New York City for driving a moped with a young child, his girlfriend’s son, without any helmet or protective restraint. Despite this, he was released before ICE could issue a detainer for his arrest. Later, he relocated to Athens, Georgia, where he was arrested with his brother Diego for alleged shoplifting from a Walmart in December 2023. According to court documents, Ibarra had also posted pictures on social media last month showing him holding a gun, an act illegal for noncitizens in the U.S.
Laken Riley’s murder has sparked national outrage and calls for President Joe Biden to take more decisive action against the record number of illegal immigrants crossing the border. In response, the Republican-led U.S. House passed the “Laken Riley Act,” a bill requiring federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants charged with theft in the United States. The tragic case of Laken Riley continues to underscore the complexities and challenges surrounding immigration policy and enforcement in the country.
