TRUMP DECLARES “ANGEL FAMILY DAY” — AMERICA REMEMBERS VICTIMS OF ILLEGAL ALIEN CRIME

In one of the most powerful and symbolic moves of his second term, President Donald J. Trump on Monday officially proclaimed February 22 as National Angel Family Day — a day to honor the hundreds of Americans whose lives were stolen by violent illegal alien crime and to stand with the families left behind.

The designation came at a solemn White House ceremony attended by grieving parents, siblings, and children who have watched their loved ones die at the hands of those who entered our country unlawfully. President Trump chose February 22 to commemorate the brutal murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was jogging near the University of Georgia when she was attacked and murdered in 2024 by Venezuelan national José Antonio Ibarra — an illegal alien whose freedom in the U.S. came after repeated releases by officials before the crime.

Standing in the East Room, Trump told Angel Families that America’s national memory cannot be incomplete — that every life taken, every parent’s nightmare, and every future cut short merits acknowledgment and justice.

“On National Angel Family Day, we remember and honor the thousands of American lives stolen from us by criminal illegal aliens and the deadly drugs they bring across our borders,” the proclamation reads, underscoring an unwavering commitment to secure the homeland and defend the rule of law.

This moment isn’t symbolic alone — it’s tied to policy victories. The first bill President Trump signed in his second term was the Laken Riley Act, passed by Congress in 2025. That law mandates federal detention of noncitizens arrested for crimes ranging from burglary to violent offenses and empowers states to sue Washington when enforcement fails.

Angel Families from across the nation — including the mothers of Rachel Morin, Kayla Hamilton, and Katie Abraham — spoke during the event, sharing heartbreak that Democrats in blue cities and sanctuary jurisdictions often dismiss. As Trump put it, “We’re putting American citizens first, we’re defending American lives, and we’re fighting for every Angel Family.”

The president also used the occasion to draw a stark contrast with the open-border policies that have plagued U.S. communities for years, painting them as a direct cause of irreversible loss and suffering.

This declaration is more than a day on the calendar — it’s a national reckoning and a renewed pledge that the Trump administration will continue to enforce the law, secure the border, and ensure that the most vulnerable Americans are protected from preventable violence.

As the nation prepares for the State of the Union address Tuesday night, Trump’s message is clear: No longer will innocent American lives be treated as collateral; no longer will families be ignored — and no longer will the sovereignty of the United States be negotiable.