Trump Honors 'Angel Families' at Event Where Laken Riley's Mother Spoke

The White House said Trump signed a proclamation designating Feb. 22 as National Angel Family Day.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The mother of Laken Riley, the Augusta University nursing student killed in 2024 on the University of Georgia's campus, thanked President Donald Trump at an event held to honor 'Angel families' on Monday. 'Angel families' is a term the Trump administration uses to reference loved ones of people killed by a person who was illegally in the U.S. Riley's death added fuel to the national debate over immigration when federal authorities said her accused killer, Jose Ibarra, illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while he pursued his immigration case.

Why it matters

The event highlights the Trump administration's focus on immigration and its impact on families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. It also reflects the ongoing political debate around immigration reform and border security.

The details

At the event, Laken Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, spoke and thanked Trump for not forgetting about her daughter. Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University who was killed in 2024 while on a run near the University of Georgia campus. Her accused killer, Jose Ibarra, was an undocumented immigrant who had entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while pursuing his immigration case.

  • Laken Riley was killed on February 22, 2024.
  • The event honoring 'Angel families' was held on February 24, 2026, two years after Riley's death.

The players

Laken Riley

A 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University who was killed in 2024 while on a run near the University of Georgia campus.

Allyson Phillips

The mother of Laken Riley, who spoke at the event honoring 'Angel families'.

Jose Ibarra

The accused killer of Laken Riley, who was an undocumented immigrant that had entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while pursuing his immigration case.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who hosted the event honoring 'Angel families' and signed a proclamation designating February 22 as National Angel Family Day.

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What they’re saying

“I just can't thank you enough. There are just not enough words to say. If you've lived the nightmare that we have lived, you understand the importance of the job that he is doing in securing our nation and fighting for our families because this could be any family. This happened to my family. This could be any one of your families.”

— Allyson Phillips, Laken Riley's mother

What’s next

The White House said Trump signed a proclamation designating Feb. 22 as National Angel Family Day, which could lead to future annual events honoring these families.

The takeaway

This event highlights the ongoing political debate around immigration reform and border security, as well as the personal toll that crimes committed by undocumented immigrants can have on families. It reflects the Trump administration's focus on this issue and its efforts to bring attention to 'Angel families' who have lost loved ones.