President Joe Biden holds a Laken Riley button as he delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Thursday March 7, 2024.President Joe Biden holds a Laken Riley button as he delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Thursday March 7, 2024.A heated debate over immigration in Georgia made its way onto an even bigger stage this week: President Joe Biden's State of the Union.
"All of Georgia and the entire country have been robbed by this inexcusable and avoidable murder," Republican Gov. Brian Kemp told an audience of business leaders in Athens not long after news of Riley's death made headlines."Laken's death is the direct result of policies on the federal level and an unwillingness by this White House to secure the southern border.
about illegal immigration a centerpiece of his reelection campaign and has said"immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country."Biden responded, saying Riley was"an innocent woman who was killed by an illegal," and went on to say,"To her parents I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself."