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Marjorie Taylor Greene gives Laken Riley pin to President Biden at State of the Union address

Laken Riley, who was killed on UGA's campus in late February, has become a focal point of national political conversations since her death.

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was seen giving President Joe Biden a pin with Laken Riley's name and face on it as he entered the room to deliver the State of the Union address. 

As he walked by, Greene said, "Laken Riley, say her name Mr. President."

Later, during the State of the Union, when Biden began talking about issues at the border, Greene shouted Riley's name from the audience.

She then shouted, "Say her name!" Biden then reached down and grabbed a Laken Riley pin that Greene had given him as he made his entrance into the United States Capitol chamber.

RELATED: 'Laken Riley, an innocent young woman': Joe Biden talks about student killed on UGA's campus

"Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal," Biden said. "But how many...thousands of people are being killed by illegals. To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand."

Credit: AP
President Joe Biden holds up a Laken Riley button as he delivers the State of the Union address. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Riley was found dead in a wooded area behind a lake near the University of Georgia's intramural fields on Feb. 22 by campus police. A day later, a 26-year-old suspect named Jose Antonio Ibarra was arrested and charged with her murder.

RELATED: Who is Laken Riley? | Nursing student killed while going for a run on UGA's campus

Credit: AP
Marjorie Taylor Greene confronts President Joe Biden at the State of the Union on 3/7/24. (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP)

In the weeks since, questions over Ibarra's immigration status have become a political flashpoint on border security, as likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the GOP party have used her death to rebuke President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

That said, The U.S. House passed a resolution Thursday centering on the death of Laken Riley. It was introduced as H.R.7511, stating it would "require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody" undocumented immigrants who have been charged with theft. The resolution was introduced by Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, whose district includes Athens. 

In general, the bill aims to toughen penalties for undocumented individuals accused of criminal activities after Riley's accused killer, Jose Ibarra, had been cited, but not arrested, for shoplifting in December. The resolution also gives state attorneys generals the authority to litigate against the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security if they allege a "violation of the detention and removal requirements" of the resolution. The resolution must now go to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where its prospects are unclear.

Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was also seen wearing a Laken Riley button. It is currently unknown who else had one displayed at the joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol. 

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