Honoring 62 Victims in the East Room

Tears flowed in the East Room as the names of 62 victims were read aloud, the military choir sang "Amazing Grace," and President Trump signed a proclamation designating February 22 as "Angel Family Day."

The ceremony honored two survivors and 62 citizens who died in cases involving illegal immigrants, including Laken Riley—a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia, who was killed on February 22, 2024, while out for a run. President Trump said, "I will never forget them."

Laken Riley's Mother Speaks Out

Allyson Phillips, Laken Riley's mother, warned, "This could happen to any family." She thanked President Trump for keeping his promise to pursue justice since the day after the tragedy. The case led to the Laken Riley Act, which requires federal detention for illegal immigrants arrested for theft or burglary; the president signed it into law on January 29, 2025, as the first act of his second term.

Heartbreaking Stories

Marie Vega recounted her family's ambush in Texas in 2014; her son was killed trying to protect family members, and her husband was injured. She stated that without the president, the consequences of open border policies would not be widely known.

Former NYPD officer Ethan Curreri stated that he had previously arrested José Antonio Ibarra in New York for endangering children; he later saw Ibarra on the news when he murdered Laken Riley. Curreri said he did his job, but the system failed to apply a detainer, did not deport him, and an innocent life was lost. He is currently working in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Warm Moment and Continued Commitment

In a rare moment of levity, the president reminded Patty Morin—mother of Rachel Morin, the Maryland mother who died in 2023—about her upcoming eye surgery and mentioned that he had covered the treatment costs. The ceremony concluded with shared embraces between the president and the families.

Organizers stated that the event aimed to reiterate the commitment to continue deporting "the most dangerous individuals" and to place border security at the forefront of the upcoming State of the Union address.