WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and her Republicans colleagues of the Senate Judiciary Committee in demanding answers on how Venezuelan national, Jose Antonio Ibarra, was granted parole into the United States.

By law, immigration parole is only to be granted at the discretion of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a case-by-case basis, in instances of “urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit.” Ibarra is the suspect charged in the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans wrote to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, “We are deeply saddened by this senseless and preventable act of violence, and we write today demanding answers about how Ibarra was allowed to enter and remain in the United States.”

“We demand that you show us your work. No later than March 8^th, please provide us with a copy of the case file for Jose Antonio Ibarra, including the record showing what urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit justified the decision to grant him parole,” wrote the senators.

The full text of the letter is here.