"May Jocelyn's family find peace in the tranquility of the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, a lasting tribute to a beautiful young soul taken from us too soon.”
– Governor Greg Abbott
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – On June 17, 2024, two Venezuelan illegal aliens assaulted and brutally murdered 12-year-old Houston resident Jocelyn Nungaray. Both suspects were enrolled DHS’s “Alternative to Detention” (“ATD”) Program. They were released into the interior of the United States despite the availability of 1,000s of ICE Detention Center beds. One of the suspects was wearing an ICE GPS monitor at the time of Jocelyn’s assault and murder.
Governor Greg Abbott earlier today joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum at the renaming ceremony of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order renaming the refuge in memory of Jocelyn and her love for wildlife and nature.
“Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Burgum for honoring Jocelyn with this sanctuary. It’s honor to be here today to rename this wildlife refuge after Jocelyn Nungaray,” said Governor Abbott.
“Jocelyn loved animals, and this land is full of them – a refuge from the dangers of the modern world, where they can prosper undisturbed and where we can enjoy their natural habitat.
"May Jocelyn's family find peace in the tranquility of the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, a lasting tribute to a beautiful young soul taken from us too soon.”
The Governor and Secretary were joined at the renaming ceremony by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Acting Director Paul Souza, former Complex Manager of the Texas Chenier Plain Refuge Tim Cooper, Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge Manager Kristin Fritiz, and Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn Nungaray's mother.
In his 2025 State of the State Address, as a direct response to the violent murder of Jocelyn by illegal immigrants, Governor Abbott demanded legislation imposing the death penalty on anyone convicted of murdering a child.
