President Trump issued his first oval office address Tuesday night, asking for public support of his proposed border wall. He referenced Santa Maria woman Marilyn Pharis, who was attacked in her home in 2015 and later died in the hospital.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Pharis was beaten with a hammer, choked multiple times and ended up with a broken neck bone and severe bruising.
The man convicted of killing her, Victor Martinez, had been in the country illegally.
Jose Villagomez was also convicted for his involvement in her death and faces 25 years to life in prison. During his address, President Trump referred to her death as one of the reasons the country needs a border wall to keep American citizens safe.
“In California, an air force veteran was raped, murdered and beaten to death with a hammer by an illegal alien with a long criminal history,” he said.
President Trump also referenced the Newman police officer who was killed the day after Christmas.
He is asking for more than $5 billion for the border wall.
The issue resulted in a Government shutdown, which has entered its third week. Democrats fired back at the president after his address, accusing him of manufacturing a crisis to stoke fear.
