In a tragic incident that has reignited the ongoing debate over immigration and border security, the death of 22-year-old Georgia student Laken Riley has caught the attention of both former President Trump and his allies, who have used it as an opportunity to criticize President Biden and Democrats over their handling of immigration policies.

Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University's Athens campus, was found dead last Thursday after her roommate reported that she did not return from a run in the wooded area of the University of Georgia campus. The suspect, 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen Jose Ibarra, has been arrested and charged with her murder. It has been revealed that Ibarra entered the country illegally in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, from Mexico and was released for further processing after being detained by U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement.

Former President Trump, who has made border security one of his signature issues, has repeatedly criticized Biden's policies in light of Riley's death. During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week, Trump expressed his concern over what he sees as a new category of migrant crime, labeling it as more severe than traditional violent crime.

However, Democrats have pushed back against the Republicans' attempts to link Riley's death to Biden's handling of immigration. They argue that immigration and crime should not be conflated and cite studies from the Cato Institute, which have found that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, commit murders at a lower rate than native-born Americans.

While the White House and Democrats have criticized Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at tightening border security, Republicans argue that the bill did not go far enough. Nevertheless, the White House accuses Trump and the GOP of politicizing the border bill, which they claim has prevented the government from taking adequate measures to tighten security at the border.

Both Trump and Biden recently visited spots on the border, with Trump directly blaming Biden for Ibarra's entry into the country during his conversation with Riley's parents. Numerous GOP officials, ranging from Trump allies like Sen. Tim Scott to former adversaries such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, have linked Riley's death to what they perceive as lenient immigration policies.

The Georgia case has provided Trump with a tragic story to underscore his message, despite the ongoing investigation into the details of the incident. Republican strategists have noted that attaching a face, especially that of a young person, to a specific policy issue has a greater impact on public opinion. Polls have also shown that immigration has surpassed the economy as the top concern for voters.

As tensions rise between Republicans and Democrats over immigration and border security, President Biden is seeking to counterattack by taking a proactive stance on the border issue. Biden's visit to the border last week and the White House's attacks on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over the border bill reflect the administration's efforts to shape the narrative.

While both sides continue to debate the responsibility for Riley's tragic death, experts have emphasized that statistically, immigrants, including those who enter the country illegally, are not more likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans. However, this does little to comfort victims and their families affected by violent crimes.

The Georgia student's death has become a focal point for the Republicans, highlighting their concerns over immigration and border security. With the issue gaining attention on a national scale, it remains to be seen how it will influence the ongoing policy debates surrounding immigration and whether it will impact public opinion in the upcoming elections.