The death of 12-year-old Houstonian Jocelyn Nungaray, who authorities said was murdered by two undocumented migrants earlier this month, came into play during Thursday鈥檚 presidential debate as the candidates criticized each other over immigration.
Nungaray was found strangled to death in said she left her family鈥檚 apartment on June 16. Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Pe帽a Ramos, 26, Venezuelan nationals who federal agents have said crossed the border illegally, with her murder.
The men entered the United States earlier this year; both were apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents near El Paso and later released with an order to appear in immigration court.
During Thursday鈥檚 debate, former President Donald Trump didn鈥檛 mention Nungaray by name but included her death as one three recent killings authorities alleged were committed by undocumented immigrants. The others were , 22, in Georgia in February, and , 37, who was killed last year in Maryland.
鈥淭hey are killing our citizens at a level we鈥檝e never seen before. And you are reading it. Like these incredible young girls over the last few days,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淥ne of them, I just spoke to the mother. They just had a funeral for this girl. She鈥檚 12 years old. This is horrible what鈥檚 taken place.鈥�
Trump reportedly spoke with Nungaray鈥檚 mother, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Immigration and, specifically, President Joe Biden鈥檚 border policies were expected to be major themes Thursday as the number of unauthorized migrants that have been encountered at the country鈥檚 southern border have reached record levels.
Trump often deviated from other topics 鈥� including the economy, Social Security and job growth 鈥� to attack Biden on immigration. He said several times that foreign governments are emptying their prisons and mental-health institutions and fueling migration to the United States, a claim that analysts have .
Gov. Greg Abbott chimed in quickly after the debate via a statement from his campaign that said the country 鈥渃an鈥檛 survive鈥� another four years under Biden.
鈥淯nder President Biden, our nation has experienced an unprecedented crisis at our southern border with record-high numbers of illegal immigrants, weapons, and deadly drugs like fentanyl entering our country. President Biden鈥檚 dangerous open border policies have already allowed over 11 million illegal immigrants 鈥� including dangerous criminals, gang members, and known terrorists 鈥� into our country,鈥� Abbott stated.
While Republicans focus on the alleged crimes some migrants are charged with, Democrats and immigrant rights supporters point to statistics that show immigrants commit fewer crimes that U.S. citizens.
A recent by the CATO Institute found that in Texas, the homicide rate is slightly lower for migrants.
鈥淭he conviction and arrest rates of illegal and legal immigrants, separately and together, were lower than those of native鈥恇orn Americans for homicide and all crimes in Texas during the 2013-2022 period,鈥� according to the report.
For his part, Biden touted the recent drop in authorized crossings 鈥� a dip of about 40 % this month 鈥� which he credited to an executive order he implemented in June. The order drastically restricts the number of migrants allowed to seek asylum when unauthorized crossings peak.
But analysts caution that the Biden administration could be overselling the results. Migrant apprehensions tend to drop after a major policy shift before ticking up again. The Mexican government has also strengthened its efforts to deter migrants from passing through the country en route to the U.S.