Alexis, who was an aspiring model, has now become the face of the fight for stricter immigration policies and border control.
Highlights
- Jocelyn Nungaray was a 12-year-old who was assaulted and m*rdered in June 2024, allegedly by two Venezuelan nationals who had entered the U.S. illegally.
- Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, was invited by Trump to his congressional speech, where he directly addressed the tragedy. Alexis was visibly emotional.
- Alexis Nungaray has become a staunch supporter of stricter immigration policies and has been thrust into the political spotlight.
- Before becoming the face of the fight for stricter border policies, Alexis used to work on various media projects.
In June 2024, the tragic death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston, Texas, brought national attention to issues surrounding immigration and public safety.
Jocelyn was mu*dered, allegedly by two Venezuelan nationals who had entered the United States illegally.
Alexis Nungaray joins President Trump at the Joint Session—a mother seeking justice for her 12-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, who was brutally murdered by illegal aliens.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 5, 2025
President Trump is fighting to secure the border and stop these tragedies from happening again. pic.twitter.com/6Fu7w9j53A
Jocelyn is survived by her mother, Alexis Nugaray, and her younger brother, who was 5 years old at the time of her passing.
This incident has since been a focal point in debates over immigration policies and border security.
President Donald Trump’s Actions Honoring Jocelyn Nungaray And Her Mother
In the wake of this tragedy, President Donald Trump has taken steps to honor Jocelyn’s memory and address the circumstances surrounding the incident.
During a recent speech at a joint session of Congress, President Trump announced the signing of an executive order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas as the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge.
This is Jocelyn Nungaray.
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) March 5, 2025
She was only 12 years old when she was murdered by illegal aliens.
President Trump just renamed a wildlife refuge after her, celebrating her love of nature.
Never forget Jocelyn Nungaray. pic.twitter.com/j0XkYjlI9X
Part of the Presidential order reads,
Jocelyn was a precious 12 year old girl beloved by her family and friends for her kindness and infectious zeal for life. She loved animals and had a passion for ensuring that they had homes. It is fitting and in the national interest, therefore, that the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, a scenic area for coastal wildlife and recreation along the Gulf of America near Jocelyn’s home in Texas, will forever honor and preserve the memory of a beautiful American, Jocelyn Nungaray.
fox26houston.com
This 34,000-acre refuge, located across Galveston Bay from Houston, was chosen to reflect Jocelyn’s love for animals and nature.
Her mother, Alexis Nungaray, was present during this announcement as a special guest of the President.
President Donald J. Trump holds up the executive he signed renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge as the "Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge" ❤️ pic.twitter.com/eeO7SBoURv
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2025
President Trump has also criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies, linking them to Jocelyn’s de*th.
He has argued that more stringent border security measures could have prevented the entry of individuals who pose potential threats to public safety.
This stance has been a recurring theme in his public addresses and policy proposals.
Alexis Nungaray Has Become The Face Of The Fight For Stricter Immigration Policies
Alexis Nungaray has been thrust into the political spotlight, particularly during President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on March 4, 2025.
During the speech, Trump highlighted the cases of Jocelyn Nungaray and Laken Riley, using their stories to emphasize the importance of securing the nation’s borders.
Before the President’s address, First Lady Melania Trump said in a statement,
Alexis is an angel mom and the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl who was mu*dered by two illegal aliens during a walk to a corner store. The Biden administration apprehended and released these vicious illegal aliens into the country just weeks before Jocelyn’s mu*der.
whitehouse.gov
🚨 JUST IN: The mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was slain by an illegal, just SLAMMED Democrats for refusing to clap for her family as well as Laken Riley’s, calling them COWARDS
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 5, 2025
“This was VERY shameful for the Democrats.”
“Democrats don’t stand for ANYTHING humane.… pic.twitter.com/JdHkGeTwjR
Alexis Nungaray was visibly emotional during the address, and her grief was palpable.
Trump described Jocelyn’s mu*der in detail and announced an executive action renaming a nature preserve in Texas after her.
Alexis’s reaction to this gesture was one of gratitude, but the pain of her loss was evident.
The case has drawn significant attention to the ongoing debate about immigration policies in the United States, and Jocelyn Nungaray’s story has become a symbol of the impact of these policies on families.
The Nungaray family, friends, and the broader Houston community were deeply affected by Jocelyn’s tragic end.
Public vigils and memorials were held in her honor, reflecting the community’s grief and support for the family.
Illegal migrants lured Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, under bridge, assaulted her for 2 hours before killing her: prosecutors https://t.co/nes3qbfRQh pic.twitter.com/qBTLahUmHt
— New York Post (@nypost) June 24, 2024
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Has Called For Capital Punishment
Previously, in November 2024, Alexis was invited by Texas governor Greg Abbott to his offices. He has called for capital punishment for the two suspects.
Later that month, she also received a phone call from the then President-elect Donald Trump, who said to her,
I’m just calling to give my warmest regards to you and your family. You just do the best you can. It’s a horrible thing. This should have never happened.
houstonlanding.org
In an article briefing her interaction with Trump, Alexis said,
It’s very heartwarming for me to know someone of such high status cares.
houstonlanding.org
She added,
It’s probably a defense mechanism for myself, but when I cry or when my eyes water, and I break down a little bit, I get a numbness. That just kind of overtakes me.
houstonlanding.org
This is the mother of 12 year old Jocelyn Nungaray who was m*rdered by two illegal aliens that Kamala Harris let in this country. The media basically blacked out her testimony in front of Congress.
— SaltyGoat (@SaltyGoat17) September 12, 2024
Now imagine if it was your child!!
SHARE THIS!!!
How many more of these have… pic.twitter.com/wqevJVPrkU
Alexis Used To Work On Various Media Projects Before The Tragedy
Before she became a political face of the tragedies caused by lackluster immigration policies, Alexis Nungaray had a diverse professional background.
She has been involved in various projects related to commercials, entertainment careers, events, modeling, music videos, TV & video, and voiceover work.
According to her LinkedIn profile, the aspiring actress worked various customer service jobs, including as a server, receptionist, and hairstylist.
Alexis graduated from Klein Collins High School in 2015.
There is no publicly available information about Alexis Nungaray’s husband or marital status.
While there have been no mentions of Jocelyn and her mother’s ethnicities, the surname “Nungaray” is of Spanish origin and is believed to have originated from the region of Castile in Spain.
It is derived from the word “nunca,” meaning “never,” and “aray,” meaning “to complain” or “to lament.”
Therefore, the surname Nungaray can be interpreted to mean “one who never complains” or “one who does not lament.”
Details of the Tragedy and Legal Proceedings
On June 16, 2024, Jocelyn Nungaray was reported missing in North Houston.
The following morning, her body was discovered in a creek; she had been se*ually assaulted and strangled.
Two Venezuelan nationals, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26, were arrested and charged with capital mu*der, kidnapping, and aggravated se*ual assault in connection with her de*th.
#BREAKING: The two men last seen with 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungary alive have been charged with capital murder. Both men live at an apartment complex nearby and are from Venezuela. Police can't confirm their immigration status yet pic.twitter.com/Co1Vwv9YYb
— Brooke Taylor (@Brooketaylortv) June 20, 2024
Both suspects had previously been apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso earlier in 2024 but were released with notices to appear in court at later dates.
This aspect of the case has fueled discussions about the effectiveness of current immigration enforcement practices.
The Harris County District Attorney has not ruled out pursuing the death penalty for the two Venezuelan illegal immigrants who brutally r*ped and m*rdered a 12-year-old girl in Houston, Texas.
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 25, 2024
The two migrants, Franklin Jose Pena Ramos and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez tied the… pic.twitter.com/2bb2CvHZCy
Legal proceedings have been ongoing, with Texas prosecutors seeking capital punishment for both defendants.
The case has become emblematic of broader concerns regarding immigration and public safety.
Additional Information
- Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University in Athens, Georgia, was mu*dered while jogging in Oconee Forest Park. The perpetrator, José Antonio Ibarra, is a 26-year-old Venezuelan man who had entered the United States illegally.
- Alexis Nungaray has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with the previous administration. In an interview with Fox News, Alexis expressed that she found Harris’s apology insincere and felt that the then-vice President did not genuinely address the impact of her daughter’s de*th.
