Texas woman's death would have been prevented if Biden had secured the border
Texas woman's death would have been prevented if Biden had secured the border | Opinion Despite the progress President Donald Trump has made in only a few months, it's impossible to erase all the risk that Joe Biden's disastrous border policies unleashed on Americans.
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Jose Ibarra found guilty in the murder of Laken Riley
Venezuelan citizen Jose Antonio Ibarra was found guilty in the murder of Univ. of Georgia student Laken Riley and sentenced to life without parole.
As a mom of four, I cannot fathom the pain of a parent who must bury a child. So I grieve with a Texas family who recently lost 18-year-old Ava Moore, who was killed in Grapevine, which is about 40 minutes from where I live.
Why is this tragedy national news? Moore was badly injured − and later died − when a jet ski plowed into her kayak. Police say the driver of the jet ski is an illegal immigrant who fled the scene of the fatal accident on May 25. A second illegal immigrant has been charged with helping the jet ski driver leave the scene.
The jet ski driver, Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, entered the United States illegally from Venezuela in 2023. Her alleged accomplice, Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, entered the country separately that same year. Both were arrested when they crossed the border, but they were released on their own recognizance with a notice to appear in court when summoned.
Two years later, they are both in custody, and a talented young woman with a promising career in the U.S. Air Force is dead. Ava Moore had recently graduated from the Air Force Academy Preparatory School and was visiting her family when the fatal crash occurred over Memorial Day weekend − a weekend to honor fallen soldiers.
Her family is now suffering because of a tragedy that should have been prevented.
Millions of people entered the US illegally
Under former President Joe Biden, our southern border was an open door that allowed millions of people from all over the world to enter our country without permission or even a cursory background check.
It's not surprising that some of them were and are dangerous.
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Although President Donald Trump has instilled more order at the border and migrant crossings have decreased substantially, the consequences of Biden's immigration policies are still being felt.
Illegal immigration is a human rights issue, not only for Moore and her family but also for other victims like Laken Riley, a young nursing student who was murdered in 2024 by an illegal immigrant.
Biden's disastrous border policies are still hurting Americans
I've lived in Texas for almost seven years. The repercussions of Biden's lawless border were felt throughout his four years in the White House, and they were a major reason why Democrats lost the 2024 elections.
Despite the progress Trump has made in only a few months, it's impossible to erase all the risk that Biden's disastrous border policies unleashed on Americans.
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In October, the House Committee on Homeland Security released a report showing that federal agents had encountered more than 8.72 million illegal crossings at the Southwest border since fiscal year 2021.
About 2 million more migrants are believed to have eluded border agents and entered the country illegally.
Even if only a small percentage of people who enter the country illegally engage in other crimes, that's of no comfort to Moore's family or the families of other victims.
Americans have a right to expect that the federal government will secure our nation's borders. They also have a right to protection from people who should never have been allowed to remain in the United States.
Ava Moore, Laken Riley and others would still be with us − and their families spared unbearable pain − if Biden administration officials had enforced the law. But they didn't.
And innocent victims continue to suffer the consequences.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.
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