Reflections on Shooting and Sanctuary Policies

As I followed the news coverage regarding the recent shooting in Minneapolis, where a woman allegedly attempted to run over a federal agent with her vehicle, two main thoughts struck me. First, it’s disheartening to see how protests can be manipulated by politicians for their agendas. And second, on a personal note, I can’t help but wonder about the lack of outrage when my daughter, Katie, was killed by an illegal alien—someone shielded by Illinois’ sanctuary laws.

Katie’s murderer, Julio Cucurbor, was using an alias and is currently dealing with a serious, contagious infection, according to court documents. Yet, when my daughter was violently taken from us, the media coverage was muted at best. There were no viral videos, no high-profile press conferences, no candlelight vigils that drew attention from politicians or the media. Where is the focus on how Katie’s car was hit by a drunk driver—an illegal alien—going around 130 mph while she was stopped at a red light?

Where was the outrage when first responders had to pry open her vehicle to retrieve her body? I found it striking that, at a time when the media and political figures are so vocal about the Minneapolis incident, they remain silent on Katie’s death.

Some politicians have spoken out about issues surrounding ICE, such as:

• Chad Wolf, Cooper Smith: “Mayor Frey, ICE does not ‘sow chaos.’ You do. Please resign.”
• New York City Democratic Mayor Zoran Mamdani: “When ICE agents attack immigrants, they attack all of us.”
• Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson: “We stand with those affected by the reckless actions of President Trump’s forces.”
• Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass: “This is a result of cruel policies from the Trump administration.”

The hypocrisy is glaring. Just the night before a Congressional hearing on sanctuary policies, I had a civil dinner conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He extended his condolences, which I appreciated. But the following day, when it was time to defend sanctuary policies, he didn’t mention Katie at all. It was as if her death was irrelevant to the policies he was advocating.

Instead, after the January 7 mass shooting, Walz labeled the Trump administration’s campaign a public safety hazard. Other prominent figures present at the hearing included Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Yet my governor has shown nothing but indifference towards Katie’s tragic death. That’s not compassion; it feels more like negligence. It seems that affluent leaders are isolated from the impacts of their own policies, much like the illegal aliens they protect.

With the one-year mark of Katie’s death approaching, a sad reality persists: sanctuary policies are causing continued harm, and our political leaders seem to prioritize self-preservation over accountability.

Katie’s death wasn’t just a tragic incident; it was a foreseeable consequence of decisions made by leaders who chose ideology over accountability. States like Illinois and Minnesota have effectively nullified federal immigration laws through sanctuary laws, which refuse to cooperate with federal authorities, even when there’s crucial information about someone’s background or potential risk to public safety. These policies have failed not just Katie and the other victims that night, but have let down the entire nation.

Sanctuary policies are often defended as “compassionate,” but a system without proper vetting and oversight leads to neglect rather than support. When a system allows people in but fails to ensure their accountability, it does not uplift anyone—it abandons them.

Illinois, by refusing to work with federal authorities, has removed critical safeguards that could prevent tragedies. Basic measures like background checks, identity verification, and monitoring are non-existent until it’s too late.

Katie paid the ultimate price. While our family continues to grieve, Illinois leaders have shown no willingness to review or reform these policies. No meaningful efforts have been made to establish even basic protections like medical examinations or language services.

Instead, officials hide behind slogans and accuse critics of lacking compassion, further inflaming tensions. This creates distractions and provides political cover for failed policies. It’s disheartening to see these situations, such as the unfortunate passing of someone like Renee Nicole Good, being leveraged to attack ICE and the Trump administration.

Where does empathy fit into all this? We need to measure policies by their outcomes, not just intentions. When preventable deaths and chaos occur repeatedly, it’s evident something is wrong.

Illinois and similar states must do better. We need a humane and legal framework that enforces laws while ensuring accountability, protecting communities, and treating everyone with dignity.

Failing to protect people like Katie is not leadership—it’s a failure of responsibility. If our leaders are unwilling to take accountability, they should step aside. The public must demand better from those in power.

We deserve safety and accountability, and we need leaders who prioritize human lives over political agendas. The sanctuary state has failed us all, and it’s clear they must do better.