Josh Hawley Grills Mayorkas Over Laken Riley’s Death In Fiery Exchange: ‘Damning Indictment Of Your Policies!’

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) grilled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday during a committee hearing over the death of Laken Riley.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia, was allegedly killed by a undocumented Venezuelan migrant back in February, sparking debate across the United States over immigration. The suspect, José Ibarra, was previously caught crossing the U.S. southern border but was later released into the country.

Mayorkas has faced criticism by Republicans over his handling of the influx of migrants at the border. House Republicans impeached Mayorkas over the administration’s immigration policy, but Senate Democrats dismissed the charges earlier this week.

On Thursday, Hawley pressed Mayorkas on why Ibarra was paroled prior to Riley’s death. The homeland secretary responded that he will not “speak to the particulars of the case given the pending criminal prosecution,” sparking an intense standoff with the Missouri lawmaker.

Hawley accused Mayorkas of “lying to Congress and the American people.”

MAYORKAS: Senator, I will not speak to the particulars of the case given the pending criminal prosecution.

HAWLEY: Oh. I’m sure well, you certainly of course you don’t want to, because it is an absolutely damning indictment of your policies! So let’s just review Jose Ibarra… how he came to be here on September the 8th, 2022. He was encountered by United States Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, and was paroled into the United States due to lack of detention capacity. A provision, a rule that is not permitted under the statute. You and I both know you know this. You knew it when you were talking to Congressman Bishop. You knew it when you were testifying to Senator Barrett, and you know it today. You just never wanted to cop to it because the statute doesn’t permit it. And so you lied to Congressman Bishop, and you lied to Senator Brett, and now you are hiding behind the ongoing prosecution excuse, because it’s the last one left to you because you testified falsely under oath. Then on July 19th, 2023, Ibarra reports for a biometric appointment and was fingerprinted. This is now in New York. The results come back and indicate he has a criminal history. So he’s in this country. He has a criminal history. September 14th, he is arrested in New York by NYPD. For what? Injuring a child? September 14th, 2023 he is arrested for injuring a child. What happens? The offense was never prosecuted and the arrest was expunged. I’m reading right out of the profile. Expunged. 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 commits a crime against a child. He’s not prosecuted. It’s expunged in November. Get this. In November, Ibarra files an application for employment authorization. And unbelievably, on December the 9th, 2023, it’s approved. So this is your policies and action, Mr. Secretary. A criminal is permitted into this country on grounds flatly, not permitted. Flatly contradictory to the statute, he commits a crime against a child, and then he gets a work permit. He gets a work permit. You want to know why all of the jobs in the last 2 or 3 years have gone to illegal migrants. Working people in this country can’t get a job, their unemployment rates high. Why? Because of things like this. And then what’s he do? Well, we all know that in February he commits the heinous crime against Laken Riley. Is this a record that you are proud of?

MAYORKAS Senator, you’ve misstated some facts.

HAWLEY: I have read from the parole file, which you have said you don’t recall. Don’t have you mis cited? I’m reading from it. It is right here. And I’ve just pursuant to the speech and debate clause, I have just read it into the record. And the reason is you have lied repeatedly to Congress and to the American people about this. They deserve to know. And the only way they’re going to know is if I tell them. I’ve just told them it’s in the record. Now I’ve read it verbatim from the parole file, verbatim. I just want to know, why did you change your story so often? Why didn’t you just answer honestly to Congressman Bishop and Senator Brett?

MAYORKAS: Senator, I am I am confident that justice will be vindicated in the criminal prosecution of the case.

HAWLEY:  Well, hopefully he’ll get more of a trial than you got. Otherwise there’ll be no justice for anyone at all.

Watch the clip above via CSPAN.

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