The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge became the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge on Thursday to honor the life of the 12-year-old girl who was brutally murdered last year by two alleged Venezuelan illegal immigrants. (KRIV)
During his joint address to Congress in March, President Donald Trump announced the renaming of the refuge to honor Nungaray, showing his signature on an executive order that changed the name of the park.
"I had no idea that was going to happen. It was a really big shock and surprise," Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn's mother, told FOX 26 at the time. "I was stunned. I didn't really know how to react. It was very surreal, very bittersweet."
TRUMP HONORS LIVES OF LAKEN RILEY, JOCELYN NUNGARAY WHILE CELEBRATING STRIDES ON SECURING BORDER
Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found strangled to death in a Houston creek in June 2024. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family)
Nungaray's death drew national attention amid criticism of the Biden administration over millions of illegal immigrants, some with violent criminal records and street gang ties, who entered the United States during his presidency.
In December, prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty for her accused killers, 22-year-old Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and 26-year-old Franklin Jose Peña Ramos.
Both men kidnapped Nungaray and caused her death by applying pressure to her neck, authorities said. They also allegedly sexually assaulted her before leaving her body under a bridge.
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Search warrants later revealed the men were possibly members of the bloodthirsty Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and entered the U.S. illegally before the slaying.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
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