U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, along with Congressman Brian Babin, have announced that their proposed legislation to permanently rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill now awaits the President’s signature.
“Twelve-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray’s life was stolen from her by murderers who were wrongfully let into the country by the Biden-Harris administration, and we owe it to her and her family to ensure her legacy is never forgotten,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I am glad the House of Representatives passed my legislation to make President Trump’s renaming of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Jocelyn’s honor permanent, and I look forward to the President signing it into law.”
Senator Cruz expressed similar sentiments: “Jocelyn Nungaray was brutally murdered by illegal aliens, an unspeakable crime which should have been prevented,” he stated. “We have a duty to honor her memory, and to bear witness alongside her family. I applaud my colleagues in the House for passing this which codifies President Trump’s order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge as the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law.”
Congressman Babin also commented on the significance of this legislative step: “Today’s vote is a step toward ensuring Jocelyn Nungaray is never forgotten,” he said. “This refuge will forever honor her bright spirit, her love for animals, and the beautiful life she should have been able to live. It also stands as a solemn reminder of the devastating cost of an open border — and our responsibility to prevent this kind of tragedy from ever happening again.”
Jocelyn Nungaray was tragically murdered in Houston on June 17, 2024. Two individuals alleged to be members of a gang are charged with her murder. The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge is located near Houston along Texas’s Gulf Coast and serves as a sanctuary for migratory birds and wildlife.
The refuge plays an important role in conservation efforts managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of its national system dedicated to public recreation and environmental education.
President Trump’s Executive Order 14229 officially changed its name on March 4, 2025; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed an implementation order three days later confirming this change under current administration policy guidelines aimed at protecting American communities through such symbolic acts like these memorials commemorating victims’ lives lost due violence related issues impacting them directly or indirectly over time periods spanning multiple years now gone past since then until present day situations evolving further still today anew again once more yet still ongoingly so forthwise accordingly thereto hereuntofore thusly thereby therefore henceforth whenceever whereupon whithersoever whatsoever howsoever whysoever whenever wherever however whoever whatever whichever whosoever whomsoever whosever whomsoevah whomst’d’ve’llt’th…
