WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, delivered emotional testimony on Capitol Hill today, urging lawmakers to pass the Justice for Jocelyn Act, a bill aimed at addressing gaps in the Department of Homeland Security’s “Alternatives to Detention” program.
In June 2024, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was found strangled in a creek in north Houston. She had snuck out of her apartment on June 16 and was last seen on surveillance footage at a convenience store before being lured by two men. Her body was discovered the following morning.
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The suspects, both undocumented migrants, were detained and charged with her murder after evidence linked them to the crime.
During her testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Alexis Nungaray recounted the circumstances of her daughter’s death, highlighting the release of the suspects under existing immigration policies, which has raised concerns about the current approach to detention and immigration enforcement.
"I believe the Biden-Harris administration open-border policies are responsible for the death of my daughter." - Alexis Nungaray
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 10, 2024
We must pass the Justice for Jocelyn Act to ensure that no parent will endure what Alexis has — her brave testimony in front of the House Judiciary… pic.twitter.com/0rhJbJc1xe
The Justice for Jocelyn Act, proposed by Sen. Ted Cruz, would require migrants to remain in custody while their cases are pending, rather than being released. The bill also mandates continuous monitoring for those with ankle bracelets, enforces a curfew, and imposes immediate deportation for any violations.
Senator Ted Cruz, a vocal advocate for the bill, issued a statement following Alexis’s testimony: “If the Justice for Jocelyn Act were law, Jocelyn Nungaray would be alive today. Americans were deeply moved today by Alexis’s testimony in the House of Representatives, in which she recounted the horror that her daughter experienced. The illegal immigrants who committed those crimes were released into Texas by the Biden-Harris administration. The Senate should immediately take up and pass the Justice for Jocelyn Act, so that no parent ever has to go through what Alexis has gone through.”
READ MORE: Sen. Ted Cruz details what the ‘Justice for Jocelyn Act’ will look like
Jocelyn’s murder has intensified the national debate on immigration policies, particularly in Texas, where the incident occurred.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where supporters like Sen. Cruz are calling for swift passage.
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