Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Congressman Henry Cuellar met recently with Esmerelda Cantu Castle, the mother of U.S. Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz, whose death near Naval Station Norfolk in early June has raised serious concerns about the Navy’s response procedures in missing-person cases. The meeting included Larry Romo of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Richard Gonzalez of the American GI Forum, two national advocacy groups calling for justice and accountability.
Congressman Cuellar posted on social media, “This week I met with Esmerelda Cantu Castle, the mother of Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz, alongside Larry Romo representing LULAC, and Richard Gonzalez of American GI Forum. Angelina was a bright young Texan whose life was tragically cut short in Norfolk. Her death has left a grieving family searching for answers.”
Angelina Petra Resendiz, 21, was last seen leaving her barracks on May 29, 2025. Her body was discovered on June 9 in a wooded area near her duty station in Norfolk, Virginia. Her mother has publicly criticized the Navy and NCIS for what she described as a delayed and dismissive response, claiming officials initially treated her daughter as absent without leave (AWOL) and failed to act quickly enough.
Congressman Cuellar has joined a bipartisan call for accountability. “I’m joining my Democratic and Republican colleagues in calling for a full briefing and complete transparency from the Navy,” he wrote. “As investigations continue, families like Esmerelda’s deserve to be kept informed every step of the way.”
During the June 25 press conference in Washington, D.C., LULAC and other advocates demanded a full independent investigation into the Navy’s handling of Resendiz’s disappearance. Cuellar’s private meeting with Castle just days later reinforced the urgency of that demand.
“Let me be clear: I stand with Esmerelda in demanding change,” Cuellar emphasized. “When a service member goes missing, the response must be swift; families must be notified immediately, and every effort must be made to ensure their safety.”
To date, no official Navy or NCIS statements have addressed Cuellar’s meeting or responded publicly to the accusations raised by the Resendiz family. The Department of the Navy has not issued a press release regarding the investigation’s status, and NCIS has not commented since initial confirmation of the sailor’s death.
Though the American GI Forum joined the advocacy push with LULAC and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), it has yet to release an official public statement. Their presence at the June 25 meeting with Angelina’s mom signals a growing coalition pressing for structural reforms in military reporting and response systems.
“Our military families deserve urgency, honesty, and compassion,” Cuellar concluded. “I’ll keep working to ensure Angelina’s legacy leads to real reform and a more accountable, responsive military for all.”
The Congressman’s meeting, though not accompanied by a formal press release, reflects an intensifying national conversation about the treatment of women and minorities in the armed services, particularly in the wake of other high-profile failures to act swiftly in missing-person cases. Cuellar’s public stance indicates that pressure on military leadership will likely continue until meaningful changes are implemented.
