Family members of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered by two migrants, told Fox News how they are now calling for tighter border security following Nungaray’s death.
The 12-year-old’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, and grandfather, Kelvin Alvarenga, both appeared on “Hannity” to discuss the young girl’s recent death. Fox host Sean Hannity first gave Alexis Nungaray the floor, asking what she wanted to say to the nation about her daughter’s tragic death. (RELATED: Two Venezuelan Migrants Arrested, Charged With Brutal Murder Of 12-Year-Old: REPORT)
“I want the nation, all around the world, to understand that she was a child. She was my child, she was my first born, she was a preteen that was slowly becoming this beautiful young lady. She was going so far, she had admiration dreams and aspiring goals she wanted to do in life. She was going to make it and she was going to do things and these men, these illegal men took that opportunity from my daughter [and] from our family of watching her become this amazing person,” Alexis Nungaray said.
“So now with her voice being ripped away from her, I am going to be her voice and stand strong and try to make a difference in this world because this has got to stop. We have to stop burying our kids, this is not right. We have to have more reinforced when it comes to letting people in, this is not okay. It’s not okay.”
Hannity continued on to ask Alvarenga the same question, highlighting how other families across the U.S. are having to deal with a similar situation as the border crisis continues.
“Well, most importantly I would like the people that can make changes to our laws to just sit back and reflect. I don’t know if we can transmit the pain that we’re having through cameras, but just sit back and reflect and think of all these little angels that shouldn’t have been taken away. And they have for the reason that we’re not doing what we need to do, you know, screening these people,” Alvarenga said.
“Like I’ve said before, you’re not going to tell me that with an ankle monitor and you’re good to go. These people, you don’t wake up one day and decide that you’re going to commit this horrific crime. These [are] people that have come used to doing this type of things. It’s just sad that it happens all over the country. We need a safer country.”
Soon after authorities found Nungaray’s body last week, Houston Police Department (HPD) announced the arrest of 21-year-old Johan Jose Rangel Martinez and 26-year-old Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, both of whom were confirmed to have crossed into the U.S. illegally, according to Fox News. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed to “America’s Newsroom” that Nungaray is believed to have endured “assault for multiple hours” after slipping out of her house to call her boyfriend before the men lured her under a Houston bridge, the outlet reported.
Ramos reportedly illegally crossed into the U.S. last month through El Paso, Texas and was released by Border Patrol with an ankle monitor which he allegedly cut off after the 12-year-old’s body was found, Department of Homeland Security sources told the New York Post.
Both men have been charged with capital murder, however, officials are waiting for lab results that could have the potential to sway towards a death penalty eligibility, Fox News reported. Ramos’ bail was set Monday for $10 million.
