Family of murdered Jocelyn Nungaray finds peace in wildlife refuge renaming
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In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, spoke about the tragic loss of her daughter and the significance of renaming a local wildlife refuge in her honor. Jocelyn was sexually assaulted and murdered by two Venezuelan illegal immigrants, Franklin Jose Pena Ramos and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, who entered the country during the Biden administration. Her body was found tied up in a bayou in Houston, sparking outrage and calls for increased border security.
Since her daughter’s death, Alexis Nungaray has become a vocal advocate for stricter immigration policies and a supporter of President Donald Trump’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. She believes that renaming the 39,000-acre wildlife refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast after Jocelyn is a fitting tribute to her daughter’s love for animals and nature.
President Trump issued an executive order on March 5 renaming the former Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge. Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Brian Babin have introduced bills to make this name change permanent, ensuring that future presidents cannot reverse it.
Rep. Babin expressed bipartisan support for the bill and expects it to pass in the House and be signed into law soon. He emphasized the importance of preserving Jocelyn’s memory and learning from the tragedy to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Alexis Nungaray shared that renaming the refuge would mean the world to her family, as it honors Jocelyn’s passion for wildlife and nature. Visiting the refuge and seeing signs bearing her daughter’s name brought her a sense of peace and connection to Jocelyn’s spirit.
Despite the pain of losing her daughter, Nungaray fondly remembered Jocelyn as a creative, quirky, and unique individual who loved music and had an old soul. She vowed to continue advocating for better border control and immigration laws in honor of Jocelyn, believing that her death should have been preventable.
Nungaray expressed gratitude to President Trump for his support and commitment to protecting American citizens. She stressed the importance of enforcing immigration laws to ensure the safety of communities and prevent future tragedies like Jocelyn’s death.
The renaming of the wildlife refuge serves as a lasting tribute to Jocelyn Nungaray’s memory and legacy, symbolizing her love for animals and nature. It stands as a reminder of the need for effective border security measures and immigration reform to safeguard the lives of innocent individuals like Jocelyn.
