Angel Families Call for Stricter Immigration Laws
In Washington, the “Angel Family,” a group of parents who have lost children to violent crimes linked to illegal immigrants and gangs, is appealing to Congressional Republicans. They want lawmakers to support President Trump’s ambitious plan to secure the border and expedite deportations.
“We’re not here as politicians or critics; we’re just parents, mothers and fathers who have buried their children because the government failed to protect our borders,” they stated in an open letter to Congress.
“There’s no justice for our children, but we can hold ourselves accountable. We need action—and there must be change,” they emphasized.
The letter is backed by the parents of over 60 victims, including the mother of Joselyn Nungarei. Joselyn, only 12 years old, was allegedly killed by two illegal immigrants. Another signatory is the family of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who lost her life to members of the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela.
A proposed bill currently being debated in the House includes $46.5 billion for border wall construction and could extend fencing up to 1,700 miles. By 2030, it aims to hire 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and add up to 100,000 beds to detention facilities.
Additionally, the bill would provide Border Patrol agents with over $2 billion in bonuses to retain staff and enhance monitoring of minors to check for gang affiliations. It also seeks to accelerate deportation processes to remove up to 1 million individuals annually.
Some Republicans, like Chip Roy from Texas, express concern over the bill’s financial implications, arguing it creates a situation where savings are delayed while costs are front-loaded, given the national debt of $36 trillion. Meanwhile, Republicans from New York downplay such concerns, noting they don’t exceed $30,000 in state and local tax deductions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is attempting to unify GOP factions to move the legislation forward, aims to bring some clarity to the budget discussions.
On Tuesday, Johnson called Trump to Capitol Hill to discuss the bill with House Republicans, but it’s unclear if all will back the final version.
“This isn’t a holdout issue. Our party is really unified,” Trump stated, showing some impatience with reporters during the meeting. He remarked on the party’s solidarity, despite some internal differences in opinion.
The bill could pass with a simple majority from both chambers, provided it only modifies existing financial caps.
Currently, Republicans hold a slim majority of 220-213 in the House and 53-47 in the Senate.
Despite ongoing debates about fiscal responsibility, Republicans appear to rally around increasing border funding in this legislative package.
Patty Morin, whose daughter Rachel was murdered by illegal immigrants in 2023, is among many “angel moms” advocating for the bill. She was invited to Washington, D.C., to highlight the tragedies faced by families affected by the current immigration policies under the Biden administration.
Describing her daughter’s horrific murder, Morin stated, “These are the criminals President Trump intends to remove from our country.” She recalled the violent crime committed against her daughter by Victor Martinez Hernandez, who was convicted of the offense.
In their letter, the Angel Families mentioned feeling ignored or dismissed as political tools for too long.
“We live with a permanent void in our lives because illegal immigrants have been allowed to stay here and live freely,” they wrote. “These tragedies could have been prevented, yet Washington continues to make excuses. That needs to change.”
