Texas wildlife refuge renamed for murdered 12-year-old, Jocelyn Nungaray, unveils signage: 'Her life mattered'

The Trump administration has renamed the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas after a Houston girl who prosecutors revealed was brutally killed last year by two Venezuelan illegal immigrants The park now known as the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge hosted a renaming ceremony on Thursday The -acre sanctuary along the Texas Gulf Coast in Anahuac serves as a home for migratory birds and wildlife managed by the U S Fish and Wildlife Facility Let this land speak her name Let its quiet strength echo her spirit And let it stand as a testament that her life mattered Interior Secretary Doug Burgum revealed during the ceremony attended by Nungaray's mother And that her story however heartbreakingly brief demands to be notified and retold and never forgotten JOCELYN NUNGARAY'S MOTHER REVEALS HORRIFIC TIMELINE OF DAUGHTER'S MURDER IN HEARING ON OPEN-BORDER CRIMEDuring his joint address to Congress in March President Donald Trump communicated 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 notified FOX 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 FRONTIER During Thursday's ceremony Burgum noted that Nungaray loved animals while offering his condolences to her mother who did not speak May Jocelyn's family find peace in the tranquility of the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge It's a lasting tribute to a beautiful young soul taken from us too soon Texas Gov Greg Abbott explained Nungaray's death drew national attention amid criticism of the Biden administration over millions of illegal immigrants a few with violent criminal records and street gang ties who entered the United States during his presidency In December prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty for her accused killers -year-old Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and -year-old Franklin Jose Pe a Ramos Both men kidnapped Nungaray and caused her death by applying pressure to her neck government explained They also allegedly sexually assaulted her before leaving her body under a bridge 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