“Border czar” Vice President Kamala Harris visited Houston, Texas, opting to attend a teachers’ convention dinner instead of going to see the parents of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was allegedly raped and murdered by two migrants.
Nungaray’s body was discovered strangled on June 17. Law enforcement identified the suspects as two Venezuelan nationals — Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 21, and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, 26.
Authorities previously verified that the duo unlawfully entered the U.S. earlier this year.
Harris’ trip to Houston initiated her extensive campaign tour following President Biden’s announcement of not seeking re-election.
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Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the members of the American Federation of Teachers at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Houston. (Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found strangled to death in a Houston creek. (Fox Houston courtesy of the Nungaray family)
Harris kicked off her visit by meeting local leaders to review hurricane recovery efforts from Hurricane Beryl, followed by attending the American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) annual gathering.
“And I appreciate your support over the years and for being the first union to endorse me this week,” stated Harris.
The American Federation of Teachers is the first labor union to back Harris for president since she announced her campaign. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)
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In her speech, Harris emphasized her campaign’s critical issues, including major aspects of the Democratic Party’s agenda, such as abolishing voter ID to enhance mail-in voting, prohibiting assault weapons, safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights, and reinstating national access to abortion.
“Currently, we see a comprehensive assault on our hard-earned rights,” remarked Harris.
“This moment calls for us to defend our most essential freedoms. And to this gathering of leaders, I say bring it on. Bring it on. Bring it on.”
Jocelyn Nungaray’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, speaks following Pena Ramos’ court appearance on June 24, 2024. (KRIV)
Notably, Harris did not meet with Nungaray’s grieving parents, who have since Jocelyn’s death advocated for a “safer country” and increased border security to avert similar tragedies.
“We need to stop burying our children,” lamented Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, in an emotional interview on “Hannity.” “This is unjust. We require better measures when it comes to immigration. This is unacceptable.”
Jocelyn’s grandfather, Kelvin Alvarenga, directed his remarks towards lawmakers.
“Consider all these little angels that should not have been lost.”
“I wish those who can influence change to take a moment to reflect,” Alvarenga said. “I can’t express the heartache we’re facing through camera lenses, but please reflect and think of all these little angels that should not have been lost, and yet they have due to our failure to properly vet individuals.”
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Westover High School in Fayetteville, N.C., on July 18, 2024. (Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images)
“Screening these individuals” falls under Harris’ responsibilities as “border czar” for the Biden administration.
The informal title “border czar” was given to Harris in 2021 when Biden designated her to pursue the “root causes” of illegal immigration.
In July 2021, she presented a five-pronged strategy addressing those “root causes” of illegal immigration. This plan offered no specific policies but emphasized “diplomacy, foreign assistance, public diplomacy, and sanctions” to “establish a fair, orderly, and humane immigration process.”
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The outline stressed the “push” circumstances prompting migration, such as natural disasters in Central America, poverty, hunger, and gang violence, which motivate individuals to leave their homes for a better life in America.
“The root causes of migration in Central America are entrenched, and migration from that region significantly impacts the U.S.,” Harris said at that time. “Consequently, we must routinely engage with this region to tackle the challenges motivating people to leave Central America for our border.”
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Despite the conjecture, the Biden administration has refuted the classification of Harris as the “border czar,” asserting she was never officially assigned this designation.
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“[Border apprehensions] have dropped by 55%. Not due to any Republican efforts but because of the actions taken by this president and vice president,” stated White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in response to inquiries about Harris’ title.
“We will dismantle the misleading representation of the vice president. She was never a border czar. This assertion has been confirmed by independent fact-checkers as well.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024. (Reuters/Callaghan O’Hare)
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott chastised Harris’ visit to Houston, asserting she “couldn’t be bothered” to drop by the southern border.
“Kamala Harris flew to Houston for a political rally but couldn’t bring herself to travel a few hundred more miles to witness the consequences of her policies on our border,” Abbott tweeted.
“She neglected to mention Jocelyn Nungaray, who was tragically killed by illegal immigrants in Houston.”
Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza had just turned 21 years old when she was killed. (GoFundMe)
Nungaray is among the victims of migrant-related crime occurring during the Biden administration.
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In July, Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, a 21-year-old illegal immigrant from Ecuador, was accused of murdering Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza at an Airbnb in Syracuse, New York.
This horrific act took place on the victim’s 21st birthday.
Laken Riley poses for a photo posted on Facebook. Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was found dead near a lake on campus on February 22, 2024. (Allyson Phillips/Facebook)
In February, Laken Riley, 22 years old, was killed while jogging along trails on the University of Georgia campus in Athens.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal migrant from Venezuela, is facing numerous charges related to Riley’s death. The 26-year-old entered a not guilty plea.
Victor Martinez Hernandez, 23, was arrested in the murder of Rachel Morin.
In August 2023, Rachel Morin, a mother from Maryland, was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered by Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, a 23-year-old illegal migrant from El Salvador.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed to Fox News Digital that Hernandez had previously attempted to enter the U.S. illegally four times after being implicated in a similar murder back in El Salvador.
Hundreds of migrants attempt to cross the Mexico-U.S. border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on March 29, 2024. (David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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The ongoing border dilemma remains a critical concern for voters ahead of the upcoming November election. The Biden administration has rejected Republican criticisms, claiming a 50% decrease in illegal immigrant crossings since Biden issued an executive order in June limiting entries into the U.S.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Harris campaign and the White House for their comments.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw, Anders Hagstrom, and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
