MIGRANT ACCUSED OF KILLING LAKEN, AND YOU HOW HER DEATH IS BEING
POLITICIZED.
HE SPOKE WITH
PRISCILLA THOMPSON.
>> I CRY EVERY DAY.
>> Reporter: IT IS A
PAIN UNLIKE ANY JASON
RILEY HAS EVER FELT.
>> I WISH I COULD HAVE
BEEN THERE.
TO PROTECT HER.
>> Reporter: MOURNING
THE LOSS OF HIS
22-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
LAKEN, WHO WAS
MURDERED LAST MONTH
WHILE JOGGING ON
CAMPUS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER THE
LAST CONVERSATION YOU
HAD WITH HER?
>> WE JUST TALKED
ABOUT HOW SHE WAS
DOING IN SCHOOL.
I WAKE UP EVERY DAY
THINKING, YOU KNOW,
THAT I CAN CALL HER,
AND I CAN’T.
>> Reporter: LAKEN WAS
A MARATHON RUNNER
STUDYING NURSING WITH
DREAMS OF ONE DAY
WORKING WITH CHILDREN,
HER DAD SAYS.
A VENEZUELAN MIGRANT
WHO ENTERED THE U.S.
ILLEGALLY IN 2022 IS
NOW CHARGED WITH HER
MURDER, OFFICIALS SAY.
THE SUSPECT HAS NOT
YET PLED IN THE CASE.
RECORDS SHOW A PRIOR
ARREST IN NEW YORK AND
A CITATION FOR
SHOPLIFTING IN
GEORGIA.
BUT HE WAS NEVER
DEPORTED.
>> DO YOU THINK A
DIFFERENCE IN
IMMIGRATION POLICY
WOULD HAVE MADE A
DIFFERENCE FOR LAKEN?
>> WE HAVE NO IDEA IF
THAT WOULD HAVE
CHANGED ANYTHING.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT HE
MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN
HERE HAD -- HAD WE HAD
SECURE BORDERS.
>> Reporter: LAKEN
RILEY’S NAME HAS
BECOME A BATTLE CRY IN
THE PARTISAN FIGHT
OVER BORDER POLITICS.
REACHING A FEVER PITCH
AT THE STATE OF THE
UNION EARLIER THIS
MONTH.
>> LAKEN RILEY, AN
INNOCENT YOUNG WOMAN
WHO WAS KILLED BY AN
ILLEGAL.
>> Reporter: DAYS
LATER HER MOM AND
STEPFATHER MEETING
WITH FORMER PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
>> IT’S INCITED PEOPLE
WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE
A VOTE IN NOVEMBER,
AND I THINK IT’S BEING
USED POLITICALLY TO
GET THOSE VOTES.
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT THAT?
>> IT MAKES ME ANGRY.
SHE SHOULD BE RAISED
UP FOR THE PERSON THAT
SHE IS.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT
THE WORLD TO KNOW
ABOUT HER?
>> JUST HOW AMAZING
SHE WAS.