A group of parents whose children were the victims of violent crimes perpetrated by illegal immigrants criticized the media for ignoring their stories while instead focusing on immigrant children who have been separated by parents after illegally crossing the border.
Fifteen parents, dubbed “Angel Families,” shared their stories during an event at the White House on Friday with President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
“You don’t hear these stories, and some of our media won’t talk to you about it, but this is permanent separation,” Steve Ronnebeck, whose son, Grant, was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant in 2015, said. “For his birthday, I go to his grave. For Christmas, we set up a Christmas tree at Grant’s grave.”
Ronnebeck thanked Trump and Pence, as well as law enforcement, for focusing on their experiences with illegal immigration.
“I wish some of our media had the same integrity as our president, our vice president, Director Homan, all of you in law enforcement,” he said, referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan. “They’re helping to get the stories out.”
The president began working with “Angel Families” during the 2016 campaign.
Friday’s event occurred after the Trump administration faced an onslaught of criticism this week for its zero tolerance immigration policy, which has led to families apprehended illegally crossing the border between ports of entry being separated.
Trump signed an executive order Wednesday meant to end the family separations.
Addressing the audience Friday, Laura Wilkerson, whose son, Josh, was tortured and beaten to death by an illegal immigrant, said unlike those parents who illegally crossed the border with their children, she is permanently separated from her son.
“We weren’t lucky enough to be separated for five days or ten days. We’re separated permanently,” she said. “Anytime we want to see or be close to our kids, we go to the cemetery because that’s where they are. We can never speak to them, we can’t Skype with them. You guys know the permanent separation. It’s the media that won’t share it with other people. It’s permanent.”
Mary Ann Mendoza also expressed frustration about the lack of coverage from the media, but said organizations exist to educate the public about families who have been impacted by violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
“The mainstream media does not let you know what’s really happening,” she said. “We are here to educate the public about what’s happening.”
Mendoza’s son, Mesa Police Sgt. Brandon Mendoza, was killed in 2014 in a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver. The blood alcohol content of the driver, an illegal immigrant, was reportedly three times the legal limit the night of the crash.
