FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., penned a letter to President Joe Biden on Monday, calling on him to acknowledge the death of Georgia college student Laken Riley during his State of the Union address Thursday night. 

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was killed last month and the suspect charged in relation to her death is Jose Ibarra, who was found to have illegally immigrated into the U.S. in 2022. 

"At just six years old, Laken knew she wanted to be a nurse so she could help people. She was living her dream until it was shattered by Joe Biden’s wide open border," Banks told Fox News Digital in a statement. "This was a totally avoidable tragedy. President Biden owes it to her family and the American people to say her name."

Banks implored Biden in the letter to "publicly acknowledge the Riley family’s tragedy" by speaking about their daughter Laken's death during the annual address to Congress. 

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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

"As Commander-in-Chief, it is your duty to protect American citizens, and this tragedy highlights the urgent need to address the surge in crime resulting from your negligence at our southern border," Banks wrote. 

The Indiana Republican, currently running for the Senate seat being vacated in 2025 by Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., further listed what he considered Biden's failures on the issues of the southern border and immigration. Banks noted Biden's reversals of Trump-era policies such as "Remain in Mexico," Title 42, and the building of a border wall. 

"Your failure to publicly acknowledge this tragedy is unacceptable," Banks added. 

Last week, the White House provided a statement to Fox News Digital regarding Riley's death. "We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laken Hope Riley," a spokesperson said. "People should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty. Given this is an active case, we would have to refer you to state law enforcement and ICE."

Biden, himself, has not addressed the death of Riley, despite being asked during a press conference if he bears any responsibility for it following a speech last week. 

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"You have a great opportunity to respect the wishes of Laken Riley's mother by breaking your silence and saying her name at the upcoming State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7, 2024," Banks told Biden in the letter. 

Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, recently changed her Facebook profile picture to a heart in UGA's colors of Red and Black, with the hashtag "#SayHerName."

In addition to asking Biden to acknowledge Riley at his SOTU address, Banks also called on the president to "take swift and decisive action to secure the border. You can prevent further tragedies and ensure a safer future for all Americans."

Top Democratic lawyer Marc Elias sparked fierce reaction on Sunday for appearing to taunt former President Trump's ability to get a fair trial in Washington, D.C. following his primary loss in the district.

Trump won just 676 votes in the D.C. GOP primary on Sunday while former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley secured her first victory with 1274 votes. 

Elias, who rose to prominence on the left as the Democrats' most aggressive election lawyer, connected Trump's poor showing with the jury pool for his 2020 election interference trial.

"In a city of 700,000, Donald Trump got 676 votes in the GOP primary. A tough jury pool....," he wrote on X on Sunday night.

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His social media post attracted over one million views overnight. Conservatives argued the Democrat was openly boasting that Trump could not get a fair trial in the deep blue city.

"Democrat lawyer openly brags that Trump will never get a fair trial or impartial jury in DC.," former Trump adviser Stephen Miller reacted.

"Confirming the DC Justice system has been corrupted by politics isn’t the flex you think it is," the Republican Party of Arizona shot back.

"Dem election attorney & Russia hoax financier is gloating about the fact that it’s impossible for Trump & other conservatives to get a fair trial in DC. Again, these people would throw you & your entire family in the gulag & not think twice about it," former Pennsylvania Senate candidate Sean Parnell wrote.

"Democrats brag about how utterly corrupt they are," conservative columnist Moshe Hill reacted.

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"In other words, no way Trump could get a fair trial there. Thanks for the admission! I'm sure his attorneys will enjoy using this tweet for any future appeals," another person commented.

"Have to get the case in front of a jury for that to matter. B–h," GOP strategist Arthur Schwartz blasted.

The district leans heavily Democrat, with President Biden garnering 92% of the Washington, D.C., vote in the 2020 election. No Republican has ever won the district's electoral votes in a presidential election.

Trump's trial, stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's 2020 election interference case, was scheduled for this week. It has been placed on hold after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review whether Trump has presidential immunity from prosecution in the case.

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Trump's lawyers had initially tried to move the trial out of Washington last year, arguing just as Elias did that the jury pool in D.C. is tainted against Trump.

"NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL, OR EVEN CLOSE TO A FAIR TRIAL, IN WASHINGTON, D.C.," Trump posted on Truth Social in August.

"THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THIS, BUT JUST ONE IS THAT I AM CALLING FOR A FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF THIS FILTHY AND CRIME RIDDEN EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR NATION, WHERE MURDERS HAVE JUST SHATTERED THE ALL TIME RECORD, OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES HAVE NEVER SEEN WORSE, AND TOURISTS HAVE FLED. THE FEDERAL TAKEOVER IS VERY UNPOPULAR WITH POTENTIAL AREA JURORS, BUT NECESSARY FOR SAFETY, GREATNESS, & FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE!"

Fox News' Yael Halon, Anders Hagstrom and Michael Lee contributed to this report.