Trump to Designate February 22 as Angel Family Day in Tribute to Laken Riley Victims

President Donald Trump will honor the families of Laken Riley and other victims killed by illegal migrants by designating February 22 as Angel Family Day. The tribute coincides with Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, where border security and his ongoing efforts to remove undocumented migrants are expected to take center stage.

The proclamation recognizes two survivors and 62 individuals killed by illegal immigrants, with the date selected to commemorate Riley’s death on February 22, 2024. This event, described as the first of its kind, will honor “Angel Families”—those who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

A White House official confirmed the vigil will be held in the East Room at 10 a.m. Monday and serves as “a solemn ceremony that reminds us all of why deportations of the worst of the worst must continue.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan are expected to attend, alongside several angel family members.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated: “President Trump is proud to have delivered accountability for Angel Families by ushering in the most secure border in history, deporting the criminal illegal aliens let into our country by prior administrations, and upholding the rule of law by strongly enforcing our immigration laws.”

Leavitt added that the first bill President Trump signed during his second term was the Laken Riley Act, which mandates federal detention for illegal immigrants arrested for burglary or theft. The legislation, enacted following Riley’s murder, was signed into law on January 29, 2025.

Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student, was murdered while jogging by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who entered the country illegally and was convicted in November 2024. Her death galvanized calls for stricter immigration enforcement and led to the passage of the Laken Riley Act.

Family members of Riley and other victims—including Rachel Morin, Katie Abraham, and Kayla Hamilton—are scheduled to attend Monday’s ceremony. Angel families have become vocal advocates for stronger border enforcement and are likely to remain central to Trump’s message as he addresses the nation on Tuesday night.