Grieving Parents Call for Change After Tragic Deaths
Parents mourning the loss of their children to violence involving illegal immigrants have reached out to national leaders with a heartfelt request: “Please choose us.”
The Gorman family stands firmly with the family of Sheridan Gorman, who shared their story on “The Story,” highlighting the missteps that contributed to their daughter’s tragic death. “I really don’t get what these politicians are thinking,” expressed Jess Gorman, Sheridan’s mother, on Thursday.
Sheridan, a freshman at Loyola University, was shot and killed in Chicago back in March. The suspect, Jose Medina-Medina, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, had previously been released from custody despite being in ICE custody, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Outrage Over Accountability
Jess Gorman expressed her feelings of being undervalued, saying, “To me, when things like this happen, it feels like they value illegal immigrants more than they care for American citizens. Honestly, it makes me want to plead, ‘Choose us. Choose my American child.’
Furthermore, the Angel family is demanding accountability for these incidents. Cheryl Minter, another grieving parent, asked on “Fox & Friends First,” “Isn’t it their job to keep us safe? And they’re not doing it.”
Minter, whose daughter Stephanie was stabbed at a Virginia bus stop, pointed out the concerning release of individuals with extensive criminal records.
Joe Abraham also related to these concerns. His daughter Katie was killed in a hit-and-run in Urbana, Illinois. He claimed that the individual convicted in Katie’s case, also an undocumented immigrant, was consistently protected by state policies.
Calls for Policy Re-evaluation
Abraham lamented the ongoing issue, stating, “Not every victim dies like Katie and Sheridan. More are born every day due to these reckless, inadequate policies.” He felt that there is a lack of willingness to re-evaluate the current system in Illinois.
The Gorman family, grappling with their loss, believes that their daughter’s death signifies a deeper systemic failure rather than just random violence. Tom Gorman, Sheridan’s father, noted, “I think there’s a definite risk when policies in place allow immigrant criminals to go unsupervised.” He struggles with the notion of whether his daughter was just an unfortunate outcome of misguided policies.
Reactions from Leadership
During a recent event, President Donald Trump expressed empathy toward the bereaved mothers present, including Angel moms and Gold Star moms, wishing them a happy Mother’s Day. He emphasized their importance, saying, “We love you, perhaps the most.”
In response to the Gorman family’s testimonies, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office acknowledged their unimaginable loss, insisting that those accountable for Sheridan’s demise must face justice. Pritzker emphasized the necessity of accountability within a diligent justice system.
