Democrats unimpressed by Trump’s gesture to family of young girl killed by illegal migrants

Democrats in a Fox News Digital focus group were unimpressed by President Donald Trump’s gesture to the family of Jocelyn Nungaray during a speech to a joint session of Congress, as Republicans and independents approved of the move.

Trump used the address to announce that a wildlife sanctuary would be renamed in honor of Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl sexually assaulted and murdered at the hands of Venezuelan illegal migrants last year.

"One thing I have learned about Jocelyn is that she loved animals so much. She loved nature. Across Galveston Bay, from where Jocelyn lived in Houston, you will find a magnificent National Wildlife Refuge, a pristine, peaceful, 34,000-acre sanctuary for all of God's creatures on the edge of the Gulf of America," Trump said.

TRUMP HONORS LIVES OF LAKEN RILEY, JOCELYN NUNGARAY WHILE CELEBRATING STRIDES ON SECURING BORDER

President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), right, and Vice President JD Vance applaud behind him. (Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS)

He then showed an executive order renaming the refuge in honor of Jocelyn, whose mother Alexis was in the audience for the address.

"Alexis, moments ago, I formally renamed that refuge in loving memory of your beautiful daughter, Jocelyn," he said. 

Republicans and independents who were part of a Fox News Digital focus group, who were given dials to show their approval or disapproval of the speech, showed that they approved of the move – with Republicans registering support slightly higher than independents. Democrats, however, appeared unmoved by the gesture, with their support staying flat.

TRUMP SIGNS LAKEN RILEY ACT INTO LAW AS FIRST LEGISLATIVE VICTORY IN NEW ADMINISTRATION

Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found strangled to death in a Houston creek in June 2024. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family)

Trump used the address to tout his progress on combating illegal immigration and take a tough stance on Venezuelans who are part of the bloodthirsty street gang Tren de Aragua. Trump highlighted both Nungaray and Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was also killed by illegal immigrants during the Biden administration.

"All three savages charged with Jocelyn and Laken's murders were members of the Venezuelan prison gang, the toughest gang, they say, in the world known as Tren De Aragua. Two weeks ago, I officially designated this gang, along with MS-13 and the bloodthirsty Mexican drug cartels, as foreign terrorist organizations," Trump said. 

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Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.