GOP lawmaker says empty seat at State of the Union will 'honor Laken [Riley] and all American victims of illegal alien crime'

President Joe Biden is slated to deliver his State of the Union address on Thursday, but while the room may be packed with guests, at least one seat will remain empty.

GOP Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia announced that he will leave a seat empty to honor Laken Riley and all victims of crime committed by illegal aliens.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was killed last month. The suspect in the case, Jose Ibarra, had been arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2022 after illegally entering the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement indicated in a statement, according to CBS News. The man had been released by border authorities pending review of his immigration case, ICE indicated, according to the outlet.

"I invited Laken Riley's parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter," Collins tweeted. "Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime. As Joe Biden attempts to paint a rosy picture of the crime-ridden country he has created, he will look up at an empty seat that memorializes those we've lost because of his open border policies."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has invited Riley Gaines as one of his guests to attend the State of the Union address, according to the Daily Wire.

Gaines has been outspoken in pushing back against radical leftist gender ideology, and opposing the practice of allowing males to compete in female sports.

"Riley Gaines is a role model for America's women and girls, inspiring them to unlock their potential and do the right thing, even when it isn’t popular," Johnson told the outlet. "I'm grateful to host Riley at the State of the Union and am proud to join her in her efforts to save women’s sports."

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