Chicago Mayor Comments on Immigration Policies Following Tragic Shooting
During a press conference on Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was questioned about the city’s immigration policies in light of the tragic death of Sheridan Gorman, a Loyola University student who was reportedly killed by an illegal immigrant.
Jose Medina, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, was apprehended on Friday, suspected of killing 18-year-old Gorman near Toby Prinz Beach. This marked Johnson’s first public response regarding the incident, and he was specifically asked if he would apologize for the city’s immigration stance.
A reporter inquired, “Could you take a moment to apologize to Mr. Sheridan’s parents for the policies you promoted that led to his death? Even if the suspect isn’t in the city or the country, your policies are to blame.” To this, Johnson replied, “I think we all mourn the loss of Sheridan and many others who have lost their lives to senseless violence. And just to clarify, the Welcoming City Ordinance was enacted 40 years ago under Chicago’s first black mayor, while the Safe-T Act was introduced by a Republican governor at that time.”
Johnson mentioned he hasn’t reached out to Gorman’s family yet, but intends to. He expressed his condolences, stating, “No words can truly comfort a family that has lost their child. My thoughts go out to the Gorman family.”
He also criticized former President Donald Trump, claiming he “refuses to take responsibility.” Johnson added, “He shifts blame everywhere but doesn’t reflect on his own responsibilities.”
In October, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker shared a satirical video on social media, wearing a bulletproof vest to emphasize the city’s safety amidst rising crime concerns.
Medina, who had come to the U.S. illegally, was previously detained by U.S. Border Patrol in May 2023 and released under the Biden administration’s policies, as per the Department of Homeland Security.
The Gorman family expressed their disappointment over the policies that allowed Medina to remain in the U.S. They stated, “We’re profoundly disheartened by the failures that enabled this individual to commit such a crime. When the system fails, the repercussions are real and, in our case, irreversible.”
After the shooting, Medina was caught on surveillance waiting for an elevator at his apartment building, without wearing a mask. Witnesses described him as having a “very distinctive limp.” At 1:06 a.m. on Thursday, a figure resembling Medina was seen departing the shooting scene, moving in a specific direction. Minutes later, he was recorded walking through an alley and entering the back of an apartment complex.
Authorities later identified Medina through images sent to a police database, leading to his arrest at his Rogers Park residence. Reports also indicated that Medina had been living in a city-sponsored migrant shelter.
