The mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungarei, who was reportedly killed by illegal immigrants in Venezuela last June, recently expressed her support for potential U.S. military actions against the Tren de Aragua narco-terrorist group.
On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces conducted a strike, resulting in the deaths of 11 TDA narco-terrorists aboard a drug ship in the Southern Caribbean. This, he claimed, illustrates the administration’s ongoing efforts to prevent harmful drugs from infiltrating U.S. shores.
“Taking down their drug boats shows real strength. I hope they keep going until each one of these monsters is off our streets,” said Alexis Nungaray.
In a poignant video produced by American Border Story, Nungaray shared a heart-wrenching account that tracked her daughter’s phone for two minutes, highlighting the human impact of the U.S. border crisis through storytelling and investigative reports.
She recounted how she stumbled upon crime scene tape where her daughter’s body was discovered.
“A police officer walked up to me before I even parked my car,” Nungaray recalled. “I was frantic, saying, ‘I’m looking for my daughter; I don’t know where she is.’ He directed me away from the scene, just saying, ‘This is another situation’ but advised me to keep my phone close.”
Eventually, the detective confirmed the grim news that his daughter had been found, noting that she had been sexually assaulted before her death.
“She fought back—there were marks, bites, and even DNA underneath her nails. I think she knew she needed to defend herself,” Nungaray added.
The alleged killers, Johann Jose Martinez Wrangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, were later identified. Pena has a prior charge of raping an American tourist in Costa Rica, and both men are thought to be connected to the Tren de Aragua gang.
Details from a search warrant revealed that Pena used emojis connected to TDA tattoos and tied his social media to the gang’s activities.
Pena had been apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in early 2024 but was released under the Biden administration’s guidelines despite his illegal entry.
After Jocelyn’s murder, both suspects were charged with capital murder in El Paso but were released back into the community, later placed under immigration detention as prosecutors pursued the death penalty.
“These men who took my daughter’s life weren’t from here. They were let go due to Biden’s catch-and-release policy. They should have never crossed paths with her. She deserved to come home,” Nungaray lamented.
She expressed a strong belief that those who cross the border illegally often have different intentions than those who do so through legal means.
“It’s quite frightening to think about the world we live in as Americans… I still have another child,” she shared, noting Trump’s efforts for safety. “It’s heartening to know that there are people committed to making a difference for our security as citizens.”
Upon learning of Jocelyn’s love for animals, Trump signed an executive order in March to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge as “Jocelyn Nungarai National Refuge” in her honor.
“When I visit that refuge, there’s a peace that soothes my soul. I can almost feel her spirit there. She would have loved to camp out each weekend,” Nungaray reflected. “She had such a big heart.”
Nungaray believes every action against TDA resonates with her fight for justice. “My daughter was murdered by criminals who shouldn’t have even been here,” she stated. “While Biden seems to dismiss illegal immigration, this administration is taking steps to prevent tragedies like ours.”
Nicole Kiprilov from American Border Story emphasized that these Venezuelans wouldn’t have been on American soil had stronger measures been in place.
“The recent strike against the drug boat signifies that the administration is actively countering these cartels. Unlike in the past, we’re ensuring families like Jocelyn’s aren’t forgotten, showcasing what real leadership looks like against these narcotics traffickers,” Nungaray concluded.
