Father of angel criticizes Democrats for not standing during State of the Union

Father of Victim Criticizes Congress After State of the Union

The father of a young woman killed by an illegal immigrant is expressing his outrage towards members of Congress who did not support the American people during the recent State of the Union address.

In his speech, President Donald Trump called on lawmakers to affirm that the primary responsibility of the U.S. government is to safeguard its citizens, rather than illegal immigrants. While Republicans responded with enthusiastic applause, most Democrats stayed seated.

Joe Abraham, whose daughter Katie was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant in January 2025, stated that this moment highlights how families like his are often overlooked in such discussions.

“Is it too much to ask to stand for basic principles during your State of the Union address? It’s really puzzling to me,” Abraham shared.

“I don’t quite get what’s happening, but it feels like there are some bad people in charge,” he remarked.

His daughter and a friend lost their lives when a Guatemalan national, who was living illegally in the U.S., crashed into their vehicle while speeding at about 130 mph. This driver had a criminal history, including a prior deportation, and had managed to procure a driver’s license using several fake identities.

After the tragedy, Abraham attempted to reach out to state officials regarding custody policies, but he reported receiving no replies to his requests for accountability.

“I don’t understand why a governor wouldn’t communicate with the lifelong residents of his state,” Abraham noted. “The disrespect shown to Katie is incredibly upsetting.”

Despite the challenges, Abraham mentioned that he remains in a “dark place,” feeling ignored by state officials while he sees federal actions being taken. He has had conversations with President Trump about his experience, discussing it “father to father.”

In 2025, he supported the initiation of Operation Midway Blitz in memory of his daughter. This operation focused on apprehending criminal illegal immigrants in Chicago, who, according to Abraham, sought refuge in Illinois due to the state’s sanctuary policies.

In September, Governor Pritzker responded to a Department of Homeland Security announcement regarding Operation Midway Blitz. He criticized the federal government, asserting that their approach was not about addressing crime, but rather creating fear among Illinois residents. Pritzker pointed out that cooperation on public safety had been lacking.