Josh Hawley Grills Alejandro Mayorkas Over Laken Riley [Video]

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) grilled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday during a committee hearing over the death of Laken Riley.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia, was allegedly killed by a undocumented Venezuelan migrant back in February, sparking debate across the United States over immigration. The suspect, José Ibarra, was previously caught crossing the U.S. southern border but was later released into the country.

Mayorkas has faced criticism by Republicans over his handling of the influx of migrants at the border. House Republicans impeached Mayorkas over the administration’s immigration policy, but Senate Democrats dismissed the charges earlier this week.

On Thursday, Hawley pressed Mayorkas on why Ibarra was paroled prior to Riley’s death. The homeland secretary responded that he will not “speak to the particulars of the case given the pending criminal prosecution,” sparking an intense standoff with the Missouri lawmaker.

Hawley accused Mayorkas of “lying to Congress and the American people.”

MAYORKAS: …