Illinois Father’s Grief Over Daughter’s Death Sparks Critique of Immigration Policy

An Illinois father is expressing his profound sorrow over the tragic death of his daughter, while condemning the state’s immigration policies for their alleged devastating impacts. Joe Abraham shared his heartache on “Fox & Friends,” recalling the loss of his 20-year-old daughter, Katie. “My daughter was taken away. We’re away. We’ll never see her again,” he said, his emotion palpable.

The incident occurred in January 2025 when Katie and a friend were struck by a car driven at high speed by a Guatemalan man in the U.S., who is suspected of being under the influence. Katie sadly died at the scene, and her friend succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.

Now, Abraham is calling for stronger measures from state leaders, criticizing their lack of response to the incident, which he described as “earless.”

In the face of recent fatal incidents tied to illegal immigration, ICE has announced a ramp-up in arrests of criminal immigrants across Illinois. Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, stated, “Every day, the men and women of ICE and other federal partners in Chicago honor Katie by getting out there and off the street.”

Further complicating matters, the Department of Homeland Security indicated that the activities in Illinois are linked to the state’s sanctuary policies, which they claim allow criminal immigrants to remain free. This has sparked heated debate. In a response, Governor J.B. Pritzker rebutted these claims, suggesting that federal authorities are attempting to instill fear rather than genuinely address crime. On X, he remarked, “The Trump administration focused on scaring Illinois people instead of taking steps to work with us on public safety.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shared similar sentiments, highlighting concerns over due process and the historical inaccuracies of ICE detaining American citizens. He voiced resistance to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration actions.

Abraham, however, dismissed these arguments. He believes that with a proper immigration system, the individual responsible for Katie’s death might have been prevented from being in a position to cause such tragedy. “If the system had worked, my child might still be alive,” he stated.

While the standoff between state and federal leaders continues regarding immigration policies, Lyons emphasized that ICE is focused on apprehending criminal immigrants, including those associated with gang activity. “We’re ensuring that this public safety threat is removed from your neighborhood,” he asserted.