Families who lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants shared emotional testimony at the inaugural American Border Heroes Awards, a nationally televised two-day event that honored both frontline border enforcement personnel and those known as “Angel families.”
Hosted by Just the News and The American Border Story, and broadcast on the Real America’s Voice network, the event featured firsthand accounts from family members of victims and calls for transparency, accountability, and action from elected officials.
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THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE! 🇺🇸 @AlexisWilkins beautiful rendition of our National Anthem.@AmandaHead @jsolomonReports pic.twitter.com/KYqCSsDlrE
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) May 1, 2025
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Lauren Phillips, the sister of Laken Riley, spoke at the ceremony about the loss of her sister, a nursing student murdered in 2024 by 26-year-old Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.
Ibarra was later convicted of multiple felony charges, including murder, attempted rape, and kidnapping.
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“Being her younger sister, I got to witness the person that she was firsthand, which I’m extremely grateful for,” Phillips said.
“She was just the person that everyone wanted to meet and be around. She was so inspirational. The biggest thing that comes to mind when I think about Laken is her faith and how Jesus just radiated out of her.”
“I COULD TALK ABOUT HER FOR FOREVER! SHE WAS JUST THE PERSON THAT EVERYONE WANTED TO MEET AND BE AROUND. THE BIGGEST THING THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN I THINK ABOUT LAKEN IS HER FAITH.” Laken Riley’s younger sister, Lauren Phillips, joins @jsolomonReports to honor her sister. pic.twitter.com/GrgwnDObZI
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) May 2, 2025
President Donald Trump signed the “Laken Riley Act” in January 2025.
The law mandates the federal detention of illegal immigrants accused of crimes including theft, burglary, assault on law enforcement, or any offense causing serious bodily harm or death.
Another speaker was Alexis Nungaray, whose 12-year-old daughter Jocelyn was murdered in Texas by two illegal immigrants in June 2024.
“She was very creative. She thrived with music. She was the kindest friend anyone could ask for,” her mother said.
“SHE WAS THE KINDEST FRIEND ANYONE COULD ASK FOR.” – Alexis Nungaray, mom of Jocelyn Nungaray, shares memories of her young daughter who was brutally murdered by two illegal immigrants. “She said, Mom, everyone’s going to know who I am one day, and I’m here shedding light on her… pic.twitter.com/r5j5VXOgFa
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) May 2, 2025
In March, the White House issued a statement honoring Jocelyn’s memory, announcing that the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas would be renamed in her honor.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service also commemorated the dedication of the 39,000-acre refuge, highlighting its importance in public recreation and wildlife conservation.
The event also featured a roundtable panel where families of victims pressed for reform and accountability.
Chris Odette, a veteran whose 13-year-old daughter Chrishia was killed in 2014 by Ramiro Guevara, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, shared his decade-long battle to get answers from federal authorities.
Guevara, who did not have a driver’s license, was released on bond just 35 minutes after fatally running over Chrishia.
Odette said ICE under the Obama administration did not cooperate in helping locate the suspect.
“Law enforcement should tell us what is going on with that person, where they’re at in the system,” Odette said.
“We shouldn’t have to inquire about it. It should automatically open, and we get the information.”
Over 10 years ago, Chris Odette lost his wife to breast cancer, and 15 months later, his daughter was k*lled in a crash caused by an illegal.
For nearly 10 years, his daughter’s killer evaded justice. He was finally just arrested by ICE:
“I lost my entire family in the span of… https://t.co/mRoOhzFq9y pic.twitter.com/9tNQFBJngR
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 1, 2025
Angel Mom Agnes Gibboney also spoke.
Her son, Ronald Da Silva, was fatally shot in El Monte, California by a previously deported gang member from Mexico.
Gibboney, who immigrated to the U.S. legally from Hungary, said border security and enforcement must be taken seriously.
“NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO GO TO A CEMETERY TO CELEBRATE THEIR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY.” @agnes_gibboney’s son, Ronald da Silva, was 29 years old when an illegal alien killed him in April 2002. “I will never know what could have been!”@AmandaHead @jsolomonReports pic.twitter.com/BqzLRmaws4
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) May 2, 2025
“These politicians need to be held accountable for not securing our border, and they need to be charged because they are an accomplice to the many hundreds and thousands of Americans that are victimized,” Gibboney said.
She called for full enforcement of E-Verify and an end to public assistance for illegal aliens.
“POLITICIANS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT SECURING OUR BORDER, AND THEY NEED TO BE CHARGED BECAUSE THEY ARE AN ACCOMPLICE TO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS THAT ARE VICTIMIZED.” – @agnes_gibboney details what we are missing in keeping our border safe.@AmandaHead… pic.twitter.com/v1NsBYEHO3
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) May 2, 2025
In addition to honoring the victims, organizers announced three new scholarship programs named after Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, and Rachel Morin.
The Laken Riley Scholarship will support students pursuing nursing.
The Jocelyn Nungaray Scholarship will aid future biologists or wildlife conservationists.
The Rachel Morin Scholarship will support students pursuing careers in law enforcement.
The scholarships are set to be awarded beginning in the fall of 2025.
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