Illegal Immigrant Arrested on Suspicion of Murdering Loyola Student Sparks Sanctuary City Debate

New York Congressman Matt Slater has criticized sanctuary city policies in the wake of the murder of 18-year-old Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman, allegedly by undocumented Venezuelan immigrant Jose Medina-Medina. Slater pointed to the family’s statement, which condemned failures in policy, and took issue with Chicago Councilwoman Maria Hadden, who seemed to suggest that Gorman was simply in the “wrong place, wrong time.” Slater argues that the current immigration system endangers innocent lives.

The House Judiciary Committee revealed internal Border Patrol documents showing that the Venezuelan immigrant accused of killing Gorman had been flagged as a flight risk. Additionally, it was noted he did not have a valid asylum claim prior to being released into the U.S. in 2023.

Medina-Medina, 25, is charged with fatally shooting Gorman in Chicago in March. Reports indicate he was arrested at the southern border in 2023, before being let into the country under the Biden administration.

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee stated in a post that authorities are reportedly releasing immigrants labeled as dangerous, even after receiving warnings.

According to documents, Medina-Medina is a native of Venezuela and is considered an illegal immigrant in the U.S. He has no immigration documentation or any active petitions for his case. Moreover, the documentation suggests that he might likely flee due to his ties elsewhere, and he lacked verifiable contact information within the U.S.

Details surrounding his arrest indicate that he entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico and was arrested by Border Patrol agents in El Paso. Despite being identified as an illegal alien, he was processed for a notice to appear due to “lack of space,” which led to his subsequent release.

Federal prosecutors charged Medina-Medina on April 2 with illegal possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years. He faces state charges too, including murder and attempted murder. Authorities mentioned that Gorman had been with friends at a pier in Rogers Park when they spotted Medina-Medina nearby. After a chase, Medina-Medina allegedly shot Gorman in the back while fleeing.

After the indictment, the Gorman family expressed their heartache, stating, “Sheridan was a real person. She had a future, a family and a life full of promise.”