Honoring Jocelyn Nungaray

This executive order renames the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to the "Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge" to honor a 12-year-old girl who was murdered in June 2024. The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete the renaming within 30 days and update all federal references to reflect the change.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 11585

Impact dates

Apr 3, 2025
Secretary of Interior completes renaming of refuge

Key directives

Secretary of Interior shall rename Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge within 30 days
Secretary shall update procedures and take all appropriate actions for renaming
Secretary shall provide guidance for all federal references to reflect renaming

Who is ordered

Secretary of the Interior · Department of the Interior

Timeline

Immediate

Order signed March 4, 2025

Near term (90d)

Secretary of Interior must complete renaming within 30 days (by April 3, 2025)
Federal references updated on maps, contracts, documents

Long term

Permanent commemoration at renamed refuge

Risks & tensions

Order contains politically charged preamble criticizing prior administration's immigration policies, but operative section is purely commemorative
No substantive policy changes to immigration or wildlife management
Potential for controversy given framing of victim's death in political context