Washington D.C. – – U.S. President Donald Trump today formally designated as National Angel Family Day, commemorating victims of crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants. The proclamation was made during a ceremony at the White House attended by families who have lost loved ones in such incidents.
The date chosen for the observance specifically honors the memory of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was killed on , allegedly by a Venezuelan national who was in the United States without legal authorization. The case garnered significant national attention and fueled calls for stricter immigration enforcement.
Riley’s death directly prompted legislative action, leading to the passage of what has become known as the Laken Riley Act. Signed into law by President Trump in , the act expands the authority of immigration officials to detain individuals suspected of crimes, even those not yet convicted, on the grounds of potential deportation.
During remarks preceding the signing of the proclamation, President Trump criticized what he characterized as a permissive approach to border security under previous administrations. He asserted that Democrats had effectively “left the border open,” allowing individuals with criminal intent to enter the country. “Everyone in this room not only suffered an infinite loss,” Trump said from the East Room. “They were the victims of politicians who put the comfort of foreign criminals before the safety of American citizens and American patriots.
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The establishment of National Angel Family Day reflects a broader political debate surrounding immigration and crime in the United States. While proponents of stricter immigration policies argue that undocumented immigrants pose a public safety risk, data on the issue presents a more nuanced picture. Official statistics regarding the number of Americans killed annually by undocumented immigrants are not consistently compiled, but historical data from the Department of Justice suggests that the phenomenon’s impact on overall crime rates is relatively limited.
Independent research from institutions like the Cato Institute indicates that the rate of homicide convictions among undocumented immigrants is, generally, lower than that recorded among U.S. Citizens. However, these findings are often contested and subject to differing interpretations.
The ceremony took place against a backdrop of heightened tension regarding the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Recent incidents involving the deaths of two U.S. Citizens in Minneapolis during operations conducted by federal immigration agents have drawn criticism and raised questions about the tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE and the Border Patrol, is currently operating under a partial shutdown, entering its tenth day as of . The impasse stems from a lack of agreement in Congress regarding the approval of new budgetary resources. This disruption has raised concerns about the agency’s ability to effectively carry out its core functions, including border security and immigration enforcement.
Allyson Phillips, the mother of Laken Riley, was invited to address the gathering at the White House. Her presence underscored the deeply personal impact of immigration-related crime on American families and served as a focal point for the event. Steve Ronnebeck, whose son Grant was killed by an undocumented immigrant, also spoke, expressing hope that the new day of remembrance would ensure that victims are not forgotten. Laura Wilkerson, whose son Joshua was brutally murdered by an undocumented classmate, shared her harrowing story, recalling a meeting with President Trump years prior where she recounted the details of her son’s death.
The designation of National Angel Family Day is likely to further galvanize support for stricter immigration policies among President Trump’s base, while simultaneously drawing criticism from advocacy groups who argue that the focus on crimes committed by undocumented immigrants unfairly stigmatizes an entire population and distracts from broader systemic issues. The event also highlights the ongoing political polarization surrounding immigration reform in the United States, a debate with significant implications for both domestic policy and international relations.
