WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge near Galveston Bay in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old Houston girl who was strangled and killed by two men accused of entering the country illegally.
Nungaray’s death last year sparked outrage among Republican lawmakers, who have since called for additional measures to strengthen border security and backed legislation in her name.
Senator Ted Cruz introduced the “Justice for Jocelyn Act” as part of the response to the incident.
Nungaray’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, has been a vocal advocate for increased border security following her daughter’s death, standing alongside Republican politicians in their push for stronger border measures.
On Tuesday, she attended Trump’s address to the House chamber, where the president announced he had signed the executive order to rename the 34,000-acre wildlife refuge east of Houston.
“The death of this beautiful 12-year-old girl and the agony of her mother and family touched our entire nation greatly,” Trump said.
“Alexis, I promised that we would always remember your daughter, your magnificent daughter, and earlier tonight I signed an order keeping my word to you.”
The executive order signed Tuesday cited Jocelyn Nungaray’s love for animals and “passion for ensuring that they had homes.”
According to the order, the Secretary of the Interior will ensure that federal references to the new “Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge” are updated on agency maps, contracts, and other documents.
“One thing I have learned about Jocelyn is that she loved animals so much,” Trump said. “She loved nature.”
Law enforcement officials reported that Nungaray sneaked out of her family’s apartment on the night of June 17 and walked to a convenience store near her home, where she was seen on surveillance video with two Venezuelan men.
Her body was discovered the next morning in a shallow creek below a bridge on West Rankin Rd. Johan Martinez-Rangel, 21, and Franklin Peña, 26, have been charged with capital murder and sexual assault in the case.
Shortly after her death, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that the two men had entered the country near El Paso without inspection, parole, or admission by immigration officers.
