‘She’s Being Used’: Laken Riley’s Father Angered By Her Name Being Exploited By Politicians in Border Fight

Laken Riley’s grieving father broke his silence on NBC’s The Today Show Monday about how he believes his daughter’s death is being “used” by politicians in the border fight.

Laken was a 22-year old nursing student out jogging on the University of Georgia campus last month when she was killed. An undocumented migrant from Venezuela, whom authorities said entered the country illegally in 2022, was arrested and charged with her murder.

NBC reporter Priscilla Thompson introduced her interview with Jason Riley by saying, “Laken Riley’s name has become a battlecry in the partisan fight over border politics.”

Thompson asked him, “Do you think a difference in immigration policy would have made a difference for Laken?”

“We have no idea if that would’ve changed anything,” said the soft-spoken father. “But, he’s here illegally — that he might not have been here had we had secure borders.”

Laken Riley’s name has been invoked by politicians like former President Donald Trump, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), to promote the argument for stricter border security. The House of Representatives passed “The Laken Riley Act” that would require ICE to take undocumented migrants into custody who commit “theft-related crimes.” The bill failed in the Senate.

“I feel like she’s being used somewhat politically,” Jason Riley said.

Thompson asked how he felt about Laken’s memory being used in that way.

“It makes me angry,” he said. “She was much better than that. She should be raised up for the person that she is.”

Court documents show that the suspect, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, has requested a jury trial, which could result in a lengthy court case for the families.

Thompson described Jason Riley as “not only is he heartbroken for his family, but also for the family of the suspect whose lives have been forever changed, and said that he told her if he ran into Ibarra’s mother in court, he would want to give her a hug, “because that’s what his daughter would’ve wanted.”

Watch the clip above via NBC News.