Who was Lizbeth Medina? Teen murder victim at the center of Trump’s immigration focus during State of the Union address

President Donald Trump sharply focused on criminal immigration and border security during his 2026 State of the Union address, using real-life cases to illustrate his policies. Pointing to Jacqueline Medina, the mother of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, Trump said:
“Her heartbroken mother is in the gallery to remind everyone in this chamber exactly why we are deporting illegal alien criminals from our country at record numbers, and we’re getting them the hell out of here fast,” the president said.

Who is Lizbeth Medina?

Lizbeth Medina, a high school cheerleader in Edna, Texas, was murdered on December 5, 2023. Her mother, Jacqueline, found her stabbed to death in the bathtub at their Cottonwood Apartments home after Lizbeth did not show up for a community Christmas parade.


Investigators determined that Rafael Romero, 25, had been stalking Lizbeth. Surveillance footage showed Romero in the apartment complex the night before the murder and near the building the next morning. Authorities believe he was also linked to a burglary at the same apartment a month earlier, on November 13, 2023.

Romero, who had overstayed a work visa, was arrested five days after the crime and remained in custody on an ICE detainer.

On February 25, 2024, Romero pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated robbery, both carrying life sentences to run consecutively. He also received a 20-year sentence for burglary, to be served after the first two convictions. Romero waived his right to appeal and will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

Lizbeth’s mother Jacqueline, said, "I don’t think he deserves any of my words. I won’t give him the power that would give him. But if I had one thing to say to him, I would tell him: you didn’t win, Medina said. "About my daughter, for anyone who didn’t know her: Lizabeth was so kind-hearted. She was goofy and funny, she was a light when she walked into a room. She was compassionate toward others, and she had so many dreams that were all hers. She wanted to be a princess, she wanted to feed people, and she was already working toward her goals, at 16 she was getting certifications and doing side jobs to get where she wanted.

Trump’s focus on Lizbeth Medina’s case highlighted the human consequences of violent crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants. By placing Jacqueline Medina in the gallery, the president personalized his message, framing his deportation policies as a public safety imperative.