Debate surrounding Illinois’ sanctuary state status has flared up once more. This time, it comes in the wake of the shooting death of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, a college student whose parents, grieving and seeking accountability, argue that this tragedy could have been prevented.
Authorities report that Gorman was fatally shot by an undocumented immigrant, an incident that particularly resonates with families like that of Jennifer Boss and Joe Abraham. “This should never have happened. Illinois lacks serious leadership,” Abraham mentioned during an interview.
Abraham carries the weight of personal sorrow, having lost his own daughter Katie to a violent crime committed by an illegal immigrant in January 2025. He expressed frustration over not having received any communication from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker since Katie’s death and is pushing for reforms to the state’s sanctuary policies.
“This is exactly what I’ve been saying. It was bound to occur again,” Abraham stated, empathizing with the Gorman family’s suffering. “They’ll experience countless sleepless nights. I can only imagine the turmoil in their minds, and my heart aches for them. I pray for their strength and for peace in their hearts.”
Pritzker’s office released a statement on Monday, expressing condolences to Gorman’s family, friends, and the Loyola University community. They acknowledged the tragic nature of Sheridan’s death and reiterated that crime is unacceptable in Chicago.
However, for Jennifer Voss, whose daughter Megan was also killed by an illegal immigrant, seeing one suspect held accountable seems insufficient to prevent future tragedies. After Megan’s disappearance in 2025, her body was eventually found in a shipping container linked to an undocumented individual in a Chicago neighborhood.
Voss commented on the situation, urging that the Gorman family would need to fight for justice, indicating a perceived lack of support from the state. “Families like theirs will have to advocate fiercely for what’s right because Illinois won’t help them,” she remarked, reflecting a growing frustration. “People are outraged that families are divided, but it’s borders that separate us in a profound way, as Agnes Giboney, another angel mother, puts it—separated by six feet of dirt and a coffin.”
Pritzker has faced scrutiny after Gorman’s death, particularly for his comments regarding a federal officer’s death in Minneapolis amidst a surge of undocumented immigrants arriving in Chicago during the current administration.
The suspect in Gorman’s murder, Jose Medina-Medina, is a Venezuelan national arrested previously by U.S. Border Patrol and then released. He was later taken into custody for shoplifting yet released again, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
