Posted on 02/28/2024 11:57:28 AM PST by lowbridge
Members of the press and Athens residents packed into the Athens-Clarke County Police Department headquarters Wednesday to discuss public safety and immigration with Mayor Kelly Girtz. The news conference followed the killing of University of Georgia student Laken Riley by Jose Antonio Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, on Feb. 22 and was quickly taken over by questions about Athens’ stance on immigration.
Girtz emphasized Athens’ lowering crime rates over the last several years, and said that data shows there is no link between immigration and crime.
“I caution against conflating immigration and crime, the data demonstrates that the two are not connected,” Girtz said during the conference.
According to a 2023 study by Stanford University’s Institute for Economic Policy Research, immigrants are 30% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born individuals.
Nonetheless, Riley’s death has become a political lightning rod, with many conservative activists, organizations and politicians holding it as an example of the dangers of undocumented immigrants.
Several demonstrators attending the conference echoed this sentiment, carrying signs reading “Justice for Laken, resign NOW” and “Blood on your hands.” They interrupted Girtz several times, shouting for Athens to crack down on undocumented immigrants living in the city.
Demonstrators and members of the media also asked Girtz to address Athens’ status as a “sanctuary city,” a term often used to describe local governments that limit or deny cooperation with the federal government’s enforcement of immigration law.
Girtz was hesitant to refer to Athens as a sanctuary city, saying that the term does not have a formal definition and can mean different things depending on who is using it. However, he said Athens’ local government will continue to affirm immigrants, and the killer being an undocumented immigrant should not be a reason to condemn local immigrant communities.
(Excerpt) Read more at redandblack.com ...
You’re an accessory, Kelly.
Girtz emphasized Athens’ lowering crime rates over the last several years, and said that data shows there is no link between immigration and crime.
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I’d say riley…iberra is link enough for me
That mayor is a disgusting piece of filth. For Democrats, illegal aliens are a means of getting permanent political power that is why they will NEVER abandon the illegals..no matter what they do they will defend them because all illegals will vote and they will all vote Democrat so its totally worth it..worth it when they kill Americans, who cares, their vote will cancel them out anyway..that is why you will never see a democrat say one negative word about illegals in this country, now if they all wore maga hats the wall would have already been built and everyone deported
Mayor Kelly, one suggestion when the people who elected you start to complain at a press conference DONT order the room cleared except for reporters.
To what data was she referring? The mayor shouldn’t get off with that fly by answer…
Or he…
Traitors then invaders.
The mayor was referring to a source that requested to remain anonymous i.e. doesn’t exist.
No link between immigration and crime. It’s been said many times that politics does not attract the best and brightest among us; some say it attracts those who are corruptible.
As for the link, give it time. Tick tock.
Simple math— if this evil illegal migrant wasnt allowed to enter the USA then Laken Riley would still be alive.
Make the mayor ride his bicycle alone at night down through the Athens Georgia "barrio."
“ The mayor was referring to a source that requested to remain anonymous i.e. doesn’t exist.”
My thoughts as well.
I don't suppose they bothered to discuss that crime.
How in the hell are sanctuary cities constitutional ? Can the citizens sue somebody to get this status cancelled?
More enemies helping the animal invaders
Photo of this mayor critter at the link resembles a typical low-T punk commiecrat.
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