ATHENS, Ga. — The national conversation about immigration has been thrust back into the spotlight after Laken Riley, an Augusta University nursing student, was killed while she was out for a run on the University of Georgia's campus. As a community grieves, others have made her death a focal point in the conversation of U.S. border security, with some Latinos saying they've been caught in the middle of hateful rhetoric.
Authorities have named Jose Antonio Ibarra the suspect in the 22-year-old's death. Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan immigrant, had entered the United States illegally, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Latinx individuals said his arrest had fostered charged conversations about immigration, making them the target for intense emotions people are feeling about Riley's death.
"What are the odds of that happening in Athens, Georgia?" Alan Alfaro said.
Alfaro joined his friend, Jonathan Florencio, in a vigil held Monday afternoon honoring Riley's life. Both Alfaro and Florencio are students at UGA and chose to honor the young nursing student's life in solidarity, they said.
"There’s moments like these where we need to be unified as one rather than pinpointing and fighting with each other," Alfaro said.
Renewed in the wake of Gov. Brian Kemp's comments from Athens Monday morning, Latinos at small businesses and on campus said they were concerned for their safety and did not want to add to the conversation, citing fear of retaliation.
UGA's Hispanic Student Association released a joint statement over the weekend writing it was "necessary and imperative to address recent hate comments made against us."
"In light of recent events, we find ourselves confronted with the painful reality of hatred and bigotry that has no place within our campus community. The hurtful and discriminatory comments made following the tragic loss of one of our own have deeply shaken us all. Such grief should not be made use of for racism, hatred or xenophobia," the statement reads.
Florencio emphasized that the hate is circulating online, even as leaders try to stand against it.
"On social media there’s been more outbreaks and posts against immigrants and minorities in general so it’s unfortunate that her death happened, but we really shouldn’t tie it in with anything political," Florencio said.
Both expressed that one Venezuelan man does not represent an entire community.
"Our community overall is a beautiful community, and we contribute greatly to the state of Georgia and to this country," Santiago Marquez, CEO of the Latin American Association, said. "And I just want to make sure that this doesn't get lost."
Marquez said the LAA helps 50,000 people a year, regardless if they're Latino or not. Over the past year, around 2,000 people have been new arrivals, largely from Venezuela.
Still, that's a small fraction compared to the one million Latinos that call the Peach State home. Data from 2023 shows Georgia's Hispanic population is roughly 10 percent with Clarke County reporting a Hispanic population of just over 11 percent.
Despite growing numbers, there's growing fear that Latinos are not fully accepted.
"I just want us to remember that, you know, the essential workforce, which is typically the folks that we serve for low-income working folks, has kept the country going," Marquez said.
However, in the wake of tragedy, advocates said there should only be one response: humanity.
"We're angry. We're upset about this. Our hearts are broken," Marquez said. "But you know, not to blame the Hispanic community for what happened."
As they share feelings of empathy, Latinos hope to also share a message.
"En la unión está la fuerza - which is basically together we are one," Alfaro said.