**Undocumented Immigrant Sentenced to Life for Murder of Georgia Nursing Student**

In a high-profile case that has ignited the national immigration debate, 26-year-old undocumented immigrant Jose Ibarra has been handed a life sentence for the brutal murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia. The verdict brings closure to a case that had become a politically charged issue, discussed by both major parties in the United States.

Allyson Phillips, Riley's mother, emotionally addressed the court before the sentencing, urging for severe punishment. "This sick, twisted and evil coward showed no regard for Laken or human life. We are asking that same be done to him," she declared.

Riley, a promising student, was found deceased on February 22 near a lake on the university's campus. Her body bore "visible injuries" and blunt force trauma, leading to the immediate classification of her death as a homicide. Authorities quickly named Ibarra as a suspect the following day.

It emerged that Ibarra had crossed the border near El Paso, Texas, illegally and had been arrested by Customs and Border Protection in September 2022. Nevertheless, he was released while his immigration status was still under review. He had a previous arrest in New York in 2023 for charges including behavior injurious to a child under 17 and a motor vehicle license violation. Despite this, he was released once again before a detainer could be issued.

Laken Riley's tragic death turned rapidly into a political firestorm. Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump used the incident to criticize President Joe Biden, asserting on Truth Social that the "Border INVASION is destroying our country and killing our citizens." Biden expressed his condolences to Riley's family during his State of the Union address in March, acknowledging her as "an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal," although he later expressed regret for using the term "illegal" instead of "undocumented."

Following the verdict, Trump took to Truth Social once more, stating that he hopes the guilty verdict will bring some "peace and closure" to Riley's family. He reiterated his call for stronger border security to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

During Ibarra's trial, prosecutors called a total of 28 witnesses, as reported by ABC News. Special prosecutor Sheila Ross highlighted that Riley had "fought for her life," which resulted in forensic evidence linking Ibarra to the crime scene.

Although the death penalty was not pursued by the prosecution, they recommended a life sentence without the possibility of parole, a request the judge ultimately granted, as per the Associated Press.