President Donald Trump announced during his address to a joint session of Congress in March that a beautiful, 34,000-acre wildlife refuge in Texas was renamed in memory of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl who was brutally murdered by illegal immigrants from Venezuela. These “monsters,” as the president called them, kidnapped the girl as she walked to a convenience store, tied her up and assaulted her for two hours under a bridge before killing her. Trump said the move would be a way to remember Jocelyn, an animal and nature lover.
On Thursday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum hosted a ceremony officially unveiling the renaming, from the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge. Burgum was joined by Governor Greg Abbott, Acting Fish and Wildlife Service Director Paul Souza, Jocelyn's mother, Alexis Nungaray, and other members of her family.
In his remarks, Secretary Burgum emphasized that the refuge named in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray serves as a lasting tribute to her memory and a symbol of hope, reflection, and justice. Secretary Burgum reaffirmed a commitment to protecting both the nation’s children and its natural spaces, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated. (DOI)
The Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge in Texas!
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 24, 2025
We’ll always remember Jocelyn. ❤ https://t.co/dY50wNnUoC
“It’s honor to be here today to rename this wildlife refuge after Jocelyn Nungaray,” Abbott said. “Jocelyn loved animals, and this land is full of them. A refuge from the dangers of the modern world, where they can prosper undisturbed and where we can enjoy them in their natural habitat. Thanks again to President Trump and Secretary Burgum for honoring Jocelyn with this sanctuary. May Jocelyn's family find peace in the tranquility of the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, a lasting tribute to a beautiful young soul taken from us too soon.”
