POTUS signs proclamation establishing National Angel Family Day
While hosting a special ceremony honoring the memory of U.S. citizens slain by illegal alien criminals, President Trump signed a presidential proclamation establishing a new day of remembrance
by Summer Lane | February 23, 2026
President Donald Trump has always stood up strongly for the American people, and on Monday, he did so yet again by honoring the families of those who have lost loved ones to violent, illegal alien-related crime.
The “Angel families” – a term used for those surviving family members of slain U.S. citizens – visited the White House for a special ceremony on Monday, where the president signed a proclamation declaring February 22, 2026, as National Angel Day in remembrance of the innocent Americans who have been tragically and wrongfully killed by illegal aliens and by the fentanyl epidemic.
“Americans like Laken and Grant, and Javier and Joshua, Rocky, Rachel, Kayla – these are great people, and we’re never going to forget them. I’ll never forget them,” the president said.
To the Angel families, the president said, “…I just think you’re among the most brave people.”
Allyson Phillips, the mother of 22-year-old Laken Riley, who was murdered by an illegal alien in 2024 while she was jogging in Georgia, gave a tearful address.
“If you’ve lived the nightmare that we have lived, you understand the importance of the job that [President Trump] is doing in securing our nation and fighting for our families – because this could be any family,” she said. “This happened to my family. This could be any one of your families.”
Angel family members were allowed to speak, and their stories were deeply emotional. Jody Jones, the surviving brother of Rocky Jones – shot and killed by an illegal alien – thanked President Trump for putting America first.
“I’m sick and tired of hearing these Democratic politicians stand up on these podiums and say how sorry they are for seeing these criminal illegal aliens being ‘ripped apart’ from their families,” Jones said. “What about us? What about the American family? … We mean something too, and this man right here understands it.”
Another Angel Mom, Laura Wilkerson, also shared her emotional story of meeting President Trump whilst he was campaigning for the office 11 years ago.
“I met a man about 11 years ago who was running for office…he watched as the tears rolled down my face as I told him the story of how our youngest son, Joshua, was brutally beaten, tortured, strangled to death, and his body set on fire,” she shared steadily.
Wilkerson continued, “The man next to me was President Trump. He never, ever, looked away from my pain. He looked me straight in the eye and he said, ‘I will never forget the story of your sweet son, and I will never give up fighting for the American family.’”
The ceremony at the White House was a moving event and even included the U.S. Army Chorus singing a special rendition of “Amazing Grace.” The victims’ memories were also honored by the lighting of a candle and the reading of their names.
