The GOP is calling for stronger immigration laws after the murder of missing college student Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa.
It was just revealed yesterday that the man suspected of murdering Mollie Tibbetts is in fact living in the United States illegally. The reaction from the political world was swift to point out flaws in border security and fueled many Republican's desire to create stricter laws.
“You heard about today with the illegal alien coming in, very sadly, from Mexico, and you saw what happened to that incredible beautiful young woman,” President Trump said at a rally Tuesday night in West Virginia. “We’ve had a huge impact but the laws are so bad, the immigration laws are such a disgrace, we’re getting them changed but we have to get more Republicans.”
The suspect, Christhian Rivera, 24, was arrested after he led authorities to the body of Tibbetts in a cornfield. He is being charged with first-degree murder and is held on $1 million cash bond.
The murder of Tibbetts is reminiscent of the Kate Steinle case. Steinle was killed after she was shot by illegal immigrant Jose Ines Garcia Zarate on a San Francisco pier in 2015. Zarate had been deported a number of times prior to Steinle's death and was found not guilty of murder last year after his defense argued that the shooting was "accidental."
Steinle’s death introduced Kate’s Law, which would increase punishments for illegal re-entry into the U.S. Kate's law has yet to be taken up by the Senate. "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act," is another bill that would cut grants to "sanctuary cities” that refuse to cooperate with immigration officials but it has also failed to be taken up by the Senate.
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