During a campaign stop for Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia, former President Bill Clinton sharply criticized the Harris-Biden administration for failing to properly vet a migrant accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley. Clinton attributed the tragedy to inadequate border control, pointing out that Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan migrant charged with the murder, had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. Released after a brief detention, Ibarra later fled to Georgia, where Riley’s murder occurred.
Clinton’s remarks came as he campaigned for Harris, who, as President Biden’s “border czar,” has faced ongoing scrutiny over immigration policy. The former president also attempted to make the case for mass immigration, arguing that the U.S. needs vetted immigrants to address population and labor shortages.
Despite his critique, Clinton expressed support for the border bill proposed by Democrats, which Republicans have opposed. He claimed that Biden and Harris had worked for years to address the immigration crisis but blamed former President Trump for stalling the measure. However, his defense of Harris’ economic policies, especially regarding inflation, fell flat as he acknowledged persistent high food prices.
Visibly frail and reflecting on his long career, Clinton hinted this might be one of his last campaign appearances, noting his deep history in the Democratic Party and his uncertainty about future events.
