Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan man, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus on February 22. Ibarra faced ten charges, including malice murder and felony murder, and was found guilty by Judge H. Patrick Haggard after waiving his right to a jury trial. The case has reignited discussions on immigration, as Ibarra had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was involved in ongoing immigration proceedings at the time of the crime. Victim impact statements emphasized the profound loss felt by Riley's family and friends, who urged for the maximum sentence to prevent Ibarra from harming others. Prosecutors presented strong evidence, including DNA found at the crime scene, establishing Ibarra's guilt. The verdict has drawn significant national attention, particularly in the context of the current immigration debate.