Former President Bill Clinton made a strong statement on Sunday, suggesting that the tragic death of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley “probably wouldn’t have happened” if the Biden-Harris administration had properly vetted the illegal migrant accused of her murder. Clinton’s remarks were made during a campaign event in Fort Valley, Georgia, where he was stumping for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Riley, an Augusta University nursing student, was allegedly murdered by an illegal migrant who had been released into the U.S. under current immigration policies. Clinton’s criticism comes at a time when the administration’s handling of the southern border is under intense scrutiny, especially following the rollback of many Trump-era immigration policies.
Since taking office in 2021, the Biden-Harris administration has significantly altered U.S. border policies, reversing several key measures implemented during Donald Trump’s presidency. One of the most notable changes was the suspension of the “Remain in Mexico” policy on the administration’s very first day in office. This policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed in U.S. immigration courts.
Critics argue that the removal of such policies has created a border crisis, allowing an unprecedented number of illegal migrants to enter and stay in the U.S. According to data released by House Republicans, the administration has allowed up to 650,000 criminal migrants, including individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, to roam American communities. Clinton’s comments add fuel to the fire for critics who blame lax border enforcement for tragedies like Riley’s death.
While campaigning for Kamala Harris, Clinton used the tragic death of Riley as an example of what he sees as the failures of the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies. “You had a case in Georgia not very long ago, didn’t you?” Clinton said to the crowd, referencing Riley’s death. “They made an ad about a young woman who’d been killed by an [illegal] immigrant,” he continued. “Well, if they’d all been properly vetted that probably wouldn’t have happened,” he added, directly implicating the administration’s policies in Riley’s death.
Though Clinton’s comments were aimed at highlighting the consequences of weak immigration controls, they also served as an indirect critique of Vice President Harris, who has been assigned the role of overseeing the administration’s border policy. Since taking on this role, Harris has faced backlash for not effectively addressing the surge in illegal immigration and for her limited visits to the southern border.
The numbers from the Biden-Harris administration paint a bleak picture of the situation at the U.S. southern border. Nearly two million known “gotaways” — migrants who evaded U.S. Border Patrol agents — have crossed into the country since Biden took office, according to Republican lawmakers on the House Committee on Homeland Security. These gotaways are individuals who enter the U.S. illegally without being apprehended, and the fact that such a large number of them have escaped detection raises serious security concerns.
In addition to the gotaways, Republicans estimate that at least 13,099 convicted migrant murderers and 222,141 migrants facing criminal charges are currently living in U.S. communities due to the administration’s border policies. These figures have alarmed lawmakers and fueled the debate over whether the current immigration system adequately protects American citizens.
The illegal migrant population in the U.S. has also grown under the Biden administration. In July 2022, Pew Research Center estimated that the undocumented population in the U.S. was around 11 million, though many critics believe the actual number is much higher.
Clinton’s remarks are not just a critique of the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of immigration; they also serve as a reminder of the political stakes involved. Immigration remains a deeply polarizing issue in American politics, and the administration’s perceived failures at the border could impact Harris’s political future, particularly as she is expected to be a key figure in the 2024 election.
While Clinton’s criticism may resonate with those frustrated by the current immigration situation, it also raises questions about the broader implications of the administration’s border policies. As the debate over immigration continues, the tragic death of Laken Riley is likely to remain a focal point in discussions about the effectiveness of current vetting and enforcement measures.
In conclusion, Bill Clinton’s comments reflect growing frustration over the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to border security. As more incidents involving criminal migrants come to light, pressure is likely to mount on the administration to take more decisive action to secure the southern border and protect American citizens from further harm.
