President Trump on Monday honored the families of victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in a White House ceremony where he signed a proclamation designating “Angel Family Day.”

The proclamation sets aside the day to remember the victims and survivors of those impacted by crimes carried out by illegal immigrants.

The date was chosen to honor the memory of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was jogging when she was murdered by a Venezuelan man in the country illegally in February 2024.

Her murder inspired the Laken Riley Act, a law that requires the detention of illegal immigrants arrested for burglary or theft. Mr. Trump signed the act into law on Jan. 29, 2025, the first bill of his second term.

Families of those slain attended the proclamation ceremony, which included the reading of the names of two survivors and 62 individuals who were killed by illegal immigrants.

The event was the first of its kind to honor angel families.

“Angel families are beautiful families,” Mr. Trump said in remarks from the East Room. “I just think you’re among the most brave people.”

Mr. Trump also criticized the immigration policies of President Biden, blaming him for the flood of illegal immigrants into America.

The event took place one day before Mr. Trump’s State of the Union speech, where he is expected to highlight his immigration agenda and border security.

Mr. Trump invited several of the family members to speak. In emotional remarks, the family members shared horrific stories of their loved ones’ violent deaths and praised the president’s border policies.

Allyson Phillips, the mother of Laken Riley, repeatedly thanked Mr. Trump for championing her daughter’s case and pushing for stronger border security. She said the president had taken a “thankless job,” and she is “beyond grateful.”

“You have fought a fight that most people would not want to fight,” Ms. Phillips said.

She remembered her daughter as a responsible, hardworking and kind Christian who didn’t put herself in bad situations and made good choices.

Marie Vega recounted her family being shot at by illegal immigrants during an attempt to steal their vehicles, killing her son and wounding her husband.

“They killed an amazing man. A loving and honorable dad and husband. Thank God we have you in office. Without you, America would not know the consequences of open borders,” she told Mr. Trump.