Internet shreds Marjorie Taylor Greene for gaffe saying US should have deported slain student Laken Riley

WASHINGTON, DC: During a House Homeland Security Committee budget hearing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Georgia GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene made a reference to the tragic death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant.

In doing so, the MAGA-aligned congresswoman appeared to suggest that Riley should have been deported due to illegal immigration in an unfortunate slipup, per the Independent.

Greene has been vocal in her criticism of President Joe Biden's immigration policies, which she has described as "corruption at its deepest level" and alleging it to be “treason” against the United States.

What did Marjorie Taylor Greene say on the House floor on Tuesday?

"It's treason because these people have declared war on our citizens by raping our women, our children, and murdering people," Rep Greene said.

"Like Laken Riley, you're familiar with her, right?" the far-right Georgia lawmaker asked the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Mayorkas acknowledged that he was familiar with Laken Riley’s murder case.

"You should have deported her so that she could be alive today," Greene remarked. "Her parents would have appreciated that."

On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old student from Georgia, was tragically murdered. The suspect charged with her murder is Jose Antonio Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. The motive behind the crime remains unclear.

There has been speculation that Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene intended to suggest that if Mayorkas had deported the suspect, Riley may still be alive. However, the congresswoman has yet to clarify her statement.

Greene has led her party in Congress in impeaching Alejandro Mayorkas. This effort has been successful in the House, and Rep Greene has delivered the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to either dismiss the impeachment charges or hold a speedy trial without conviction.

If the former is the case, Mayorkas will continue in his role. And if not, then he would have the unsavory distinction of being the first Cabinet member in 150 years to face impeachment.

Rep Greene has utilized Laken Riley's death to fuel her objections to President Biden's border policy.

During the 2024 State of the Union address, Congresswoman Greene wore a MAGA hat and a shirt that said ‘SAY HER NAME,’ referring to Laken Riley. She also shouted out at President Biden to "say her name" during his address.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended Alejandro Mayorkas' tenure as Secretary, and has branded the Republican-led effort to remove him from office as a "sham."

A DHS spokesperson said in a statement, “Despite warnings from fellow Republicans that this baseless impeachment effort ‘distorts the Constitution,’ House Republicans continue to ignore the facts and undermine the Constitution by wasting even more time on this sham impeachment in the Senate.”

Internet mocks Greene's gaffe

Responding to the unfortunate slip-up, an X user remarked, "The Karen of Capitol Hill."

Another said, "She's such a stain on Congress, on this country. Shameful that she's so thoughtlessly using the Riley family's grief, for her own political agenda."

Someone else wrote, "@RepMTG is a despicable human being. 'Human being' may be a stretch."

A user quipped, "If we can deport American citizens, let’s deport @mtgreenee."

Another remarked, "Someone please make her make sense."

Someone else tweeted, "When you think you have something but you actually don't."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.