The father of a 21-year-old man fatally shot while working at an Arizona convenience store says deaths at the hands of illegal aliens are entirely avoidable.
"They could've been stopped. We could've done so much more.
"Unfortunately, under President Joe Biden, somebody took their foot off the brakes and put their foot on the accelerator to let these people into our country — and it wasn't just regular people; it was criminals, murderers, killers, rapists," Steve Ronnebeck said at a White House ceremony Monday honoring "angel families."
"Angel families" is a term the Trump administration uses to refer to relatives of people killed by someone who was in the U.S. illegally.
"And now, today, we are finally going to see that somebody is going to remember all of our loved ones. They're going to remember the names," he continued.
"And they're going to remember what we've all been through. Thank you, Mr. President."
Ronnebeck was one of several family members of people killed by illegal aliens to speak at the ceremony.
The White House has framed tougher border controls, expanded immigration enforcement operations, and stricter detention policies as a response to those families' losses, arguing that more aggressive enforcement prevents similar criminal violence.
Critics, however, say the focus on these killings amplifies rare but devastating cases to justify sweeping policies that affect millions of immigrants with no criminal record, deepening an already polarizing national debate over public safety and immigration.
Grant Ronnebeck was murdered in 2015 at a QuikTrip store in Mesa. His killer, Apolinar Altamirano, was an illegal alien who had previously been deported.
At the time of the murder, Altamirano was reportedly out on bail while awaiting deportation for a burglary conviction, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. He died in prison last April while serving a 38-year sentence for his role in Ronnebeck's death.
Trump concluded Monday's event by signing a proclamation designating Feb. 22 as "National Angel Family Day."
A candle was lit in memory of those killed by illegal aliens, and their names were read aloud. Members of the military then sang "Amazing Grace."
The event featured remarks by family members who thanked Trump for his work honoring their loved ones and securing the border. Trump acknowledged their suffering and criticized the press for its coverage of the issue.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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