Speaker Critiques Sanctuary Policy After College Student’s Killing

House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana expressed strong criticism of the Democratic Party’s sanctuary policies following the tragic death of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old student from Loyola University Chicago. He stated that these policies “worked exactly as the Democrats intended.”

During a Capitol Hill press conference, Johnson lamented, “If that crazy policy had been in place, this young woman would still be alive.” Gorman was allegedly shot by Jose Medina-Medina, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, on March 19. Medina-Medina had previously been apprehended and released by U.S. Border Patrol earlier that year but was later arrested for shoplifting shortly after entering the United States.

“The irony of all this is that the system did not fail Sheridan,” Johnson commented. He criticized the Democratic leadership responsible for policies he believes enabled such incidents, emphasizing that they “coddled and empowered criminal illegal aliens.” Johnson pointed out that Democrats controlled key policy areas, which he feels contributed to Gorman’s death.

Gorman’s murder has ignited considerable anger nationwide. Many have drawn parallels to the 2024 killing of another student, Laken Riley, suggesting that these events might influence public sentiment in upcoming elections. The Gorman family has openly criticized Chicago’s Democratic leadership, rejecting the narrative that her death was merely a senseless tragedy, and they are calling for accountability, asserting that it highlights systemic failures.

In their statement, the Gorman family specifically challenged both Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, stating that her death “demands accountability.”

Johnson remarked that the effectiveness of open borders and sanctuary policies is “the reason why we are angry about this.” He noted that Medina-Medina was in custody on two occasions but was released both times, implying that policies allowed for such a situation. “Sheridan Gorman is still with us, and her whole life is still ahead of her,” he added, expressing a sense of deep loss.

Addressing the broader implications, a critic described how often similar stories arise, questioning, “How many more times does this story need to be repeated?” He asserted that Democratic policies would continue to put innocent Americans at risk as long as the party protects dangerous criminals from the law.