How a Georgia nursing student's killing reached Biden's State of the Union

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.

As Biden addressed the southern border in his speech, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shouted from the chamber and pressed Biden to, "Say her name."

Greene was referring to Laken Riley, a 22 year-old nursing student found dead on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens last month. A Venezuelan man who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally has been charged with her murder.

That revelation set off a firestorm among Georgia Republicans, who quickly sought to link the attack to the Biden Administration's immigration policies.

"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."

The Biden administration has been calling on lawmakers to authorize additional funds to strengthen enforcement at the border, improve detention facilities and hire more border patrol agents and immigration judges. But so far the proposals haven't advanced in the divided Congress.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that the suspect in Riley's case, Jose Ibarra, was apprehended by border patrol agents in 2022 and was then released on parole. Ibarra had several run-ins with law enforcement in New York and Georgia prior to his arrest last month.

On Thursday night, Greene handed Biden a white button with Riley's name on it as he made his way through the House chamber to begin