DOJ Launches $25 Million ANGEL Grant and Hosts Historic Violent Crime Victims Summit

Survivors and Grieving Families Take Center Stage at First-Ever Summit

The Justice Department used its first Attorney General's Summit on Victims of Violent Crime to put something often missing from crime statistics back into view — the people behind the numbers. On September 24, Attorney General Todd Blanche convened the landmark gathering in Washington, D.C., bringing together survivors and the families of murder victims alongside senior federal officials for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about public safety and accountability.

The Attorney General gathered victims and survivor families together at the first Summit on Victims of Violent Crime ahead of a memorial for the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, held on September 25. The summit included families affected by homicide, fentanyl, drunk driving, repeat offenders, and other violent crimes. Their presence was not ceremonial — it was the point.

The ANGEL Grant Program: $25 Million for Local Law Enforcement

The Justice Department unveiled a $25 million grant opportunity as Attorney General Todd Blanche hosted violent crime survivors and grieving families for a summit focused on public safety and support for victims. The program's name — ANGEL — carries deliberate weight. Justice Department officials announced the "Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws" Grant Program in honor of Americans killed by illegal aliens, violent offenders, and illicit drugs.

The Assisting Neighborhoods and Governments with Enforcement of Laws program will serve to help and reward law enforcement offices across the nation that are fighting back against crime perpetrated by illegal immigrants, along with efforts against gangs and drug and human trafficking. Local law enforcement can apply by October 20, 2026, and are eligible to receive up to $500,000. That deadline is just weeks away, making this a fast-moving opportunity for departments across the country.

Who Was in the Room

Participants in the roundtable discussion included FBI Director Kash Patel, White House border czar Tom Homan, acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter, and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter. Other participants included Michelle Esquenazi, president and CEO of Empire Bail Bonds; Jennifer Harrison, executive director of the Victims' Rights Reform Council; and Nicole Kiprilov, executive director of American Border Story.

The event also included victims and family members such as Patti Fox, the mother of Carissa Aspnes; Stephen Federico, the father of Logan Federico; Anne Fundner, the mother of Weston Fundner; Anna Giaritelli, a victim of violent crime; and Jessica Gorman, the mother of Sheridan Gorman. Their stories grounded the policy discussion in real, irreversible human loss.

What This Means Going Forward

"Our Angel Families are the most powerful advocates for building a brighter, drug-free future," said Director Sarah Carter of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "We want to empower your voices as they carry forth the memory of your children to save the lives of others. Through it all, you are making a difference and this Administration will stand beside you."

The ANGEL program honors Americans killed by criminal illegal aliens and illicit drugs while giving state, local, and tribal law enforcement new resources to prevent more families from suffering the same devastation. The announcement comes as FBI data show violent crime fell sharply nationwide in 2025, although national statistics do not tell the full story of what individual communities or victims experienced. For the families who filled that room on September 24, no statistic captures what they've been through — and the Justice Department's decision to center their voices in this first-of-its-kind summit signals that victim advocacy will remain a defining feature of federal crime policy in the months ahead.