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Trump Declares ‘Angel Family Day’ Amid Growing Immigration Controversy
President Trump signed a proclamation Monday designating February 22 as “Angel Family Day,” honoring families of Americans allegedly killed by undocumented immigrants. The East Room ceremony served as a platform for the president to defend his immigration policies amid declining public support following recent controversial enforcement actions.
During the event, Trump claimed without evidence that his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden was due to fraud, linking the election results to the deaths of audience members’ loved ones. “Every one of your loved ones would be alive today,” Trump told attendees, suggesting none would have died during his previous term.
The president accused Democrats of being “professional cheaters” and compared his 2020 electoral defeat to the suffering of crime victims’ families, telling them: “We’ve suffered through it together. I suffer for the country.”
Trump’s proclamation comes at a critical moment, just one day before his State of the Union address, where immigration is expected to feature prominently. Recent polling indicates his immigration policies have faced growing opposition, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing only one-third of Americans believe he’s handling immigration effectively.
Several “Angel Family” members spoke at the event, including Allyson Phillips, mother of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student murdered in February 2024. Riley’s case became a rallying point for Republicans, with the Laken Riley Act becoming the first bill Trump signed during his second term. The legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain non-U.S. nationals arrested for certain property crimes.
“You are doing a thankless job that most people just wouldn’t do, and I just can’t thank you enough,” Phillips told Trump during the ceremony.
Steve Ronnebeck, whose son Grant was killed while working at an Arizona convenience store, used his remarks to defend the administration’s policies against accusations of racism. “Americans are not racist. We’re not xenophobic because we want a safe America and we want to put Americans first,” Ronnebeck said.
The president made unsubstantiated claims that foreign leaders deliberately send “bad people” to the United States, saying: “If you’re running a country, you want to send your bad people out. That was the way I looked at it.”
Trump’s focus on immigrant crime comes as his administration faces criticism over enforcement tactics. Recent months have seen multiple deaths during immigration enforcement actions, including American citizens. The shooting deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration officers in Minneapolis sparked nationwide outrage. Additionally, American citizen Ruben Ray Martinez was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a traffic stop in Texas.
These incidents have contributed to declining support for Trump’s immigration approach. A February Quinnipiac survey found 63 percent of American voters disapproved of ICE’s enforcement methods, while polling from NBC News indicated nearly three-quarters of Americans want ICE either reformed or abolished.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan, key architects of the administration’s immigration policies, attended the White House ceremony.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s approach in a statement: “President Trump is proud to have delivered accountability for Angel Families by ushering in the most secure border in history, deporting the criminal illegal aliens let into our country by prior Administrations, and upholding the rule of law by strongly enforcing our immigration laws.”
As Trump prepares for his State of the Union address, he told attendees the country is “doing well now” and previewed that he would tout economic achievements despite polls suggesting many Americans remain dissatisfied with his economic performance.
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12 Comments
This is a troubling development. It’s important to support victims’ families, but the president’s continued promotion of false election claims is divisive and damaging to democratic institutions. We need leadership focused on facts, not fiction.
I agree completely. Exploiting personal tragedies for political gain is unethical and undermines public trust. We should expect more from our elected officials.
The president’s comments linking election fraud to victims’ deaths is highly inappropriate. Regardless of one’s political views, using such personal tragedies for political purposes is disrespectful and divisive.
Exactly. This type of rhetoric only serves to further polarize the immigration debate. We should seek solutions that honor all human life and dignity.
This is a concerning report. While I understand the desire to honor victims, spreading disinformation about the election results is irresponsible and damaging. We should focus on facts and policies, not unsubstantiated claims.
I agree. Exploiting tragedy for political gain is unethical. We need open and honest dialogue to address immigration challenges, not inflammatory rhetoric.
This is a troubling development. The president’s continued promotion of disputed election claims while exploiting personal tragedies is deeply concerning. We need leaders who can address complex issues objectively and with respect for democratic institutions.
I agree completely. Politicizing these tragedies is unethical and undermines public trust. We should expect our leaders to focus on facts, not fiction, when addressing sensitive matters like immigration reform.
While I appreciate the president’s effort to recognize the suffering of these families, his unfounded claims of election fraud undermine the credibility of the event. We need leaders who can address complex issues objectively and compassionately.
Well said. Politicizing these tragedies is counterproductive. Constructive dialogue and evidence-based policies are needed to make meaningful progress on immigration reform.
The president’s statements are deeply concerning. While honoring victims’ families is admirable, linking their suffering to unsubstantiated claims of election fraud is inappropriate and counterproductive. We need leaders who can address complex issues objectively and with empathy.
Well said. Responsible leadership requires acknowledging facts, not perpetuating false narratives. Constructive dialogue and evidence-based policies should be the priority in addressing immigration challenges.