Michigan GOP Rep John James was among those to sound off
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House Republicans are heaping criticism on President Biden’s border policies again after an illegal immigrant was accused of killing a 25-year-old woman in Michigan.
"Biden’s open border policies are costing lives in [Michigan]. TODAY, he could implement border measures, or use the authority that he already has," Rep. John James, R-Mich., wrote on X. "When is enough, enough?"
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who is currently behind bars at a jail in Kent County, Michigan, is being charged with murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon and felony use of a firearm after the body of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia was discovered on U.S. 131 in downtown Grand Rapids and identified by investigators. The pair had been in a romantic relationship at the time of the killing, police said.
GOP lawmakers like Reps. John James, left, and Richard Hudson, right, are criticizing the Biden administration over the death of a 25-year-old Michigan woman. (Getty Images/Kent County Jail)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson confirmed that Ortiz-Vite was in the country illegally at the time of Garcia's death and that he was previously deported to Mexico in 2020.
It comes after the death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus. Riley’s suspected killer, from Venezuela, arrived in the U.S. illegally. Officials said they did not know each other.
"An illegal migrant has been charged with murdering 25-year-old Ruby Garcia from Michigan. The murderer, Brandon Ortiz-Vite, had been deported then re-entered our country illegally. Under Biden, innocent lives are being cut short by people here illegally. Enough is enough," said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., chairman of the House Republicans’ campaign arm.
GOP SENATOR OUTRAGED BY WEEKLY REPORTS OF MIGRANT ARRIVALS RELEASED BY DHS
Brandon Ortiz-Vite is accused of killing 25-year-old Ruby Garcia, pictured here. (Mavi Garcia)
Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., wrote on X, "Laken Riley, Ruby Garcia… How many more innocent Americans have to die before Joe Biden closes the border?"
Another lawmaker, Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., sounded off, "An illegal alien was charged in the carjacking and murder of a 25-year-old Michigan woman. Joe Biden’s open border policies continue to kill innocent Americans."
Republicans have blamed Biden’s border policies for fueling the current migrant crisis, accusing him of rolling back stricter Trump administration-era rules and refusing to enforce existing immigration laws. The Biden administration in turn has accused the GOP of withholding funding the White House has requested to add more resources at the U.S.-Mexico border – though Republicans argue more funding is meaningless without policy upheaval.
LAKEN RILEY FUNERAL IN GEORGIA COMMEMORATES NURSING STUDENT ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
Republicans have blamed President Biden for the current state at the southern border. (AP/Evan Vucci)
A recent string of highly-publicized and unrelated crimes involving illegal immigrants has fueled the GOP’s outrage, including an attack on police officers in New York City.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to
