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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens



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View as web page:

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LULAC DEMANDS FULL TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE DEATH OF NAVY
SERVICEMEMBER ANGELINA RESENDIZ
=======================================================================


Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Urges Investigation
Into the Tragic Case of Latina First Reported to be AWOL, Similar to Vanessa
Guillén

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is calling
for an immediate and transparent investigation into the tragic death of Angelina
Resendiz, a 21-year-old Latina sailor from Brownsville, Texas, whose body was
discovered near Naval Station Norfolk on June 10. Resendiz's disappearance on May
29 and the mishandling of her case by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
(NCIS) have drawn national scrutiny and painfully echoed the systemic failures
exposed by the Vanessa Guillén case in 2020.

"On behalf of LULAC, I write with deep concern and sorrow over the death of
Seaman Angelina Resendiz," said Roman Palomares, national president and chairman
of the board. "The delays, miscommunication, and lack of urgency surrounding her
disappearance are unacceptable and eerily reminiscent of the failures that led us
to fight for the I Am Vanessa Guillén Act five years ago."

Despite early warnings from Resendiz's colleagues and family, she was initially
marked AWOL, not as a missing person. A missing person's alert was not issued
until six days later, and the family has reported false reassurances suggesting
she had been found alive. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, led the search herself
without meaningful support from the Navy or NCIS. A fellow sailor is now in
custody, with charges pending under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

LULAC has formally written to Secretary of the Navy John P. Phalen demanding a
public response and complete investigation and has alerted senior leadership at
the U.S. Department of Defense and the House and Senate Armed Services
Committees.

LULAC supports the Resendiz family and is demanding the following actions:

1. A thorough and transparent investigation into the death of Seaman Resendiz,
including a public timeline and accountability for every step of the Navy's
and NCIS's response.

2. UCMJ accountability for any supervisors or command personnel who failed to
take appropriate action.

3. An explanation for why she was initially declared AWOL rather than listed as
missing.

4. Immediately confirm any non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that service
members were asked to sign relating to this case.

5. A formal review of Naval Station Norfolk's sexual assault and harassment
procedures, especially as they relate to women of color.

6. A public apology and acknowledgment of the mishandling and miscommunication
with the family.

7. Full enforcement of the I Am Vanessa Guillén Act, with its protections
actively applied to this and other similar cases.

8. Collaboration on a Civilian Family Guide to support loved ones navigating
institutional barriers after military tragedies.

9. Continued transparency and access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) for the Resendiz family.

"We stood with the Guillén family when the system failed their daughter, and we
now stand with the Resendiz family," said Palomares. "It is not enough to mourn.
Action must follow. Our Latino service members deserve to be protected,
respected, and never abandoned."

In support of the family's ongoing efforts, LULAC encourages the public to
contribute to the official fundraiser:
Support Esmeralda's Search for Angie Resendiz – GoFundMe [ [link removed] ]

# # #

About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and
largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to
advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy,
community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide,
LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of
Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about
LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ] .















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