Hawley to Mayorkas on Laken Riley's Killer: 'Then He Gets a Work Permit' (April 18, 2024)

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., came to the hearing with a file: the immigration record of Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan illegal immigrant charged with murdering 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley. He read from it to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas [1][2].

“In November, get this, in November, Ibarra files an application for employment authorization. And unbelievably, on December 9, 2023, it’s approved,” Hawley said [2].

“This is your policy in action, Mr. Secretary: A criminal is permitted into this country on grounds … flatly contradictory to the statute. [Ibarra] commits a crime against a child, and then he gets a work permit,” Hawley said, according to his office [1].

The video above shows the exchange from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s April 18, 2024, hearing on the department’s budget. Quotes are from Hawley’s office and from Fox News’ report on the hearing [1][2].

”Paroled and Released”

Ibarra had entered the country in 2022. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed to Fox News Digital that Customs and Border Protection “had encountered Ibarra on Sept. 8, 2022, and he had been ‘paroled and released for further processing,’” Fox reported [2].

The parole file showed he was released because of an alleged lack of detention space, lawmakers said. But the parole law, Fox noted, allows releases only for “urgent humanitarian reasons or ‘significant public benefit’” [2].

“Nothing is done to this guy. He had a criminal record to start with, he’s in the country on illegal grounds. You have falsely and illegally allowed him in. He committed a crime against a child. He’s not prosecuted, it’s expunged,” Hawley said [2].

”I Will Not Comment”

Mayorkas would not discuss the case. “All our hearts break for the family of Miss Riley. Secondly, the perpetrator of this heinous criminal act needs to meet justice to the fullest extent of the law. And I will not comment on the particulars of the case, because the matter is being prosecuted by authorities now,” he told Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the committee’s top Republican [2].

When Paul asked if he was pleading the Fifth, Mayorkas said, “I have provided my answer.” Later he added: “There are different bases for parole. I am not a legal expert in this regard.” He also said, “The number of individuals encountered at the border exceed the number of beds available in our detention facilities. That is not something specific to this administration” [2].

”More of a Trial Than You Got”

Hawley accused Mayorkas of shifting his account. “You have lied repeatedly to Congress and to the American people about [Ibarra’s criminal history]… . I just want to know, why did you change your story so often?” Hawley asked, according to his office [1].

“I am confident that justice will be vindicated in the criminal prosecution of the case,” Mayorkas answered [2].

Hawley shot back with a reference to Mayorkas’ own impeachment. “Well, hopefully he’ll get more of a trial than you got,” he said. “Otherwise, there’ll be no justice for anyone at all” [2]. The day before, the Senate had voted 51-49 along party lines to dismiss the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas and adjourn the trial [3].

”Long Past Time for You to Go”

Hawley also raised the death of 12-year-old Travis Wolfe of Missouri, who his office said was allegedly killed by illegal immigrant Endrina Bracho [1].

He closed by urging Mayorkas to resign. “Mr. Secretary, I know that you think your policies are a success… . Maybe they’re working for your political objectives … but they’re not working for Laken Riley or Travis Wolfe or the people of my state… . What you have done is a travesty, and, sir, it is long past time for you to go,” Hawley said [1].

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., pressed Mayorkas on Venezuelan migrants. “Why are you mass importing tens of thousands of Venezuelans into our country via parole, knowing they can’t be deported, because Venezuela isn’t exactly accepting removal flights?” he asked. “We are not doing that, senator,” Mayorkas said [2].

By the Numbers

Sept. 8, 2022: the day CBP encountered Ibarra, according to ICE [2].
Dec. 9, 2023: the day Ibarra’s work permit was approved, according to the file Hawley read [2].
22: Laken Riley’s age [1].
51-49: the Senate vote ending Mayorkas’ impeachment trial the day before the hearing [3].
Life without parole: Ibarra’s sentence [4].

What Happened Next

Ibarra was convicted. On Nov. 20, 2024, Ibarra “was found guilty Wednesday on all counts in the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley” and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, FOX 13 reported [4].

Congress passed the Laken Riley Act. On Jan. 29, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, Public Law 119-1, the first law of the new Congress. It requires the secretary of homeland security “to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft” [5].

For the White House’s answer when asked whether Biden had called Laken Riley’s family, see HYGO News’ page on Jean-Pierre and the Riley family. For an earlier Hawley clash with Mayorkas, see the page on migrant child labor.