President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation establishing Angel Family Day, a tribute to families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally. The observance falls on Feb. 23, one day after the anniversary of the Feb. 22, 2024, killing of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student.

The ceremony, held in the East Room of the White House, recognized two survivors and 62 individuals killed by illegal migrants, according to administration officials. The event was described as the first formal White House observance dedicated specifically to Angel Families.

Riley was murdered while jogging by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who was in the United States illegally and was later convicted in November 2024. Her death became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement and border security.

Trump signed the Laken Riley Act on Jan. 29, 2025, making it the first bill enacted during his second term. The law mandates federal detention for illegal immigrants arrested for burglary or theft, aiming to prevent repeat offenses while cases are pending.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president views the proclamation as both a memorial and a policy statement. “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,” she said.

Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan attended alongside members of several Angel Families, including relatives of Rachel Morin, Katie Abraham, and Kayla Hamilton.

The tribute came one day before Trump’s State of the Union address.