Georgia lawmakers voted Thursday to tighten the state’s already strict immigration laws in response to the killing of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, whose death became ensnared in the broader fight over immigration policy after a man from Venezuela who entered the country illegally was charged with her murder.

Legislative Response

In the frenzied final hours of the legislative session, the state’s House of Representatives gave final approval to a measure that would require local law enforcement agencies to scrutinize the immigration status of people in their custody and to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Background

The legislation was the result of a vow from Republican lawmakers to crack down after Riley’s body was found last month in a wooded area on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Her death rattled the community that is the home of the state’s flagship university, roughly 70 miles from Atlanta.

Case's National Impact

The case quickly reverberated beyond Georgia, with Republicans arguing that her killing exemplified a failure by President Joe Biden to adequately respond to an influx of migrants.

Biden's Response

Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, a Republican, denounced “an unwillingness by this White House to secure the southern border.” Riley’s death was also invoked during the State of the Union as Biden responded to heckling from Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Immigration Policy Impact

Proponents of tougher immigration laws have zeroed in on the case because the man charged in the killing, Jose Antonio Ibarra, was arrested by the Border Patrol for entering the United States illegally in 2022.

Challenges and Criticism

The legislation has been criticized for having vague language and placing an unfair burden on local officials, who could face lawsuits. The bill has also spurred fears of increased racial and ethnic profiling by police.