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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that victims’ families affected by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants will attend President Donald Trump’s upcoming congressional address.
Speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Leavitt emphasized Trump’s focus on border security by featuring families who lost loved ones during the Biden administration’s period of unprecedented illegal border crossings. The guest list, curated by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, includes both community heroes and fallen law enforcement officers.
“The first lady will be in attendance tonight and the list that she and President Trump put together is phenomenal. There will be everyday American heroes in attendance, Stephanie Diller, who you mentioned who lost her husband in the line of duty at the hands of an illegal immigrant,” Leavitt said. “You have Marc Fogel, who of course because of President Trump’s peace through strength efforts was returned from Russian captivity. [The family of] Corey Comperatore, who lost his life protecting his family in Butler, Pennsylvania. You’ll also have an auto worker, a steel worker, and you will see exceptional Americans with great stories. President Trump will be telling their stories tonight.”
The democrats plan to disruptt he SOTU tonight, but Trump has other plans. I wonder who the surprised guests are? Any guesses? 👀 pic.twitter.com/AN84eLaOsD
— Sassafrass84 (@Sassafrass_84) March 4, 2025
Among the attendees are the mothers of Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, and Laken Riley, 22, both victims of crimes by undocumented immigrants. In Houston, two Venezuelan immigrants were responsible for Nungaray’s assault and murder, while Riley died from head trauma inflicted by Jose Antonio Ibarra, another Venezuelan national.
ICE confirmed Ibarra entered through El Paso and received parole release due to detention space limitations. After a prior arrest in New York City, he relocated to Athens, Georgia, where he committed the murder. A jury found him guilty on all charges, resulting in life imprisonment without parole.
Border statistics show staggering numbers under Biden’s administration, with over 2.4 million encounters in 2023 and 2.1 million in 2024. The current fiscal year has already recorded 350,000 encounters.
Special guest Stephanie Diller’s husband, NYPD officer Jonathan Diller, was fatally shot by Guy Rivera, a repeat offender with 21 prior arrests. While Trump attended Officer Diller’s wake, Biden opted for a campaign fundraiser in New York City.
Stephanie Diller will be at President Trump’s SOTU tonight.
Nothing will ever be enough, but it’s heartwarming to know we now have a President who gives a damn about our officers & their families.
From last yr’s @HouseGOP tribute, led by @ANTHONYDESPO:pic.twitter.com/OjrXfZ0vhJ
— blayne c. (@blaynecs) March 4, 2025
Marc Fogel, recently freed from Russian detention after serving part of a 14-year sentence for medical marijuana possession, will also attend. His mother previously criticized Biden’s administration for delayed action in securing his release.
The Comperatore family will honor their fallen firefighter, Corey, who died protecting his daughters from Thomas Matthew Crooks’ attempted assassination of Trump. Additionally, Payton McNabb, a young athlete who suffered brain trauma competing against a transgender athlete, received an invitation to the address.
