Minutes before taking the stage for the first presidential debate, Donald Trump received a call from Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was recently killed in Houston. The call, witnessed by family friend Victoria Galvan, came after Alexis had returned a voicemail from Trump left earlier during her daughter’s funeral. Jocelyn’s body was found in a creek near her home on June 17, after being allegedly attacked by two Venezuelan men in the U.S. illegally. According to police, the suspects, Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, had been detained by U.S. border authorities earlier this year but were released pending a court appearance.
During the debate, Trump highlighted Jocelyn’s case and criticized President Biden’s immigration policies, accusing him of allowing criminals into the country. “There have been many young women murdered by the same people he allows to come across our border,” Trump stated. “These killers are coming into our country and they are raping and killing women. And it’s a terrible thing.” He added, “This is horrible, what’s taken place… We’re literally an uncivilized country now.”
Trump’s comments echo his long-standing rhetoric, portraying immigrants crossing the southern border as violent criminals, often focusing on cases involving young women allegedly killed by Hispanic men. Critics accuse him of exploiting these tragedies to stoke fear and animosity towards immigrants. Christopher Federico, a political science and psychology professor at the University of Minnesota, remarked that Trump’s narrative plays into racist stereotypes that paint Latino men as threats to white women.
Studies generally show no evidence that immigrants commit crimes at higher rates than native-born Americans. Nonetheless, Trump’s message resonates with many voters, amplified by conservative media and online influencers. Galvan, a friend of the Nungaray family, blamed Jocelyn’s death on Biden’s immigration policies, stating, “I think Jocelyn would definitely still be here if President Trump was our president.”
Despite lacking evidence, a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in May indicated that about three-quarters of Republicans believe migrants in the U.S. illegally pose a danger to public safety. Immigration remains a significant concern among voters, especially conservatives, with Trump frequently attacking Biden over record levels of illegal border crossings. Biden, in turn, blames Trump for urging Republicans to block a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at enhancing border security, criticizing Trump’s policies as unnecessarily harsh.
“Donald Trump is using the pain and loss of American families for the benefit of one person and one person only: Donald Trump,” stated Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz. “His sick and dehumanizing comments do nothing to make our border more secure and are beneath the office of president of the United States.”
A conservative group, Building America’s Future, recently launched a digital ad campaign in seven battleground states, featuring violent crimes and criticizing Biden’s immigration policies. The ad highlighted the case of Rachel Morin, a mother of five killed in August 2023, allegedly by an immigrant from El Salvador in the U.S. illegally, with the message, “Joe Biden’s open border, a nightmare for American women.”
Trump’s strategy recalls the controversial “Willie Horton” ad from the 1988 presidential campaign, which attacked Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis and was criticized for stoking racial fears. “Trump is saying, ‘We don’t like immigrants and now here’s another horrific reason not to like them. They will come after you and kill you,'” noted Republican strategist Susan Del Percio.
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended Trump’s actions, stating that Biden’s border policies allowed dangerous criminals into the U.S., while Trump sought to support victims’ families. “President Trump says their names, calls their mothers, and stands with their families, while Joe Biden continues to ignore their suffering and welcome in millions of dangerous criminal illegal immigrants,” she said.
The response from victims’ families to Trump’s outreach has been mixed. While some appreciate his efforts to publicize brutal killings, others accuse him of politicizing their tragedies. For instance, in 2018, Trump publicized the case of Mollie Tibbetts, who was killed by a Mexican immigrant, but her father criticized Trump for exploiting the tragedy. Conversely, Michelle Root, whose daughter was killed by a drunken driver in the U.S. illegally, supported Trump after he reached out to her, feeling her daughter’s case gained a voice through him.
Most recently, Trump offered condolences to Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, who was “incredibly touched” by his outreach, according to her attorney, Randolph Rice. “During the 20-minute phone call, the president asked about Rachel and her family and how they are doing,” Rice said, adding that Morin had not heard from the Biden administration.
This ongoing debate underscores the polarizing nature of immigration policy in the current presidential race, with each side leveraging tragic events to support their respective narratives.
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