Laken Riley’s Parents Decline State of the Union Invitation

The parents of slain Georgia nursing student Laken Riley have turned down an invitation from Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., to attend the State of the Union Thursday.

“I invited Laken Riley’s parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter,” Collins posted on X.

“Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime.”

Riley, 22, a nursing student at the Augusta University College of Nursing, was found beaten to death Feb. 22 on the University of Georgia campus after she went out for a run. Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was in the U.S. illegally, was arrested on murder and assault charges in connection to her death.

“As [President] Joe Biden attempts to paint a rosy picture of the crime-ridden country he has created, he will look up at an empty seat that memorializes those we’ve lost because of his open border policies,” Collins’ post concluded.