Tragic Loss Due to Immigration Policies
Katie was a vibrant 20-year-old, a junior at Ohio University. She was full of life, with a spark and the kind of love that seems rare. She had this incredible ability to make others feel seen. But now, she’s gone—lost to a flawed immigration system and a politician who prioritized politics over public safety.
Katie’s life was tragically cut short when Julio Kukul Bor, who had been deported previously but re-entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, struck her vehicle. Local law enforcement stated that he had blended into the community unnoticed.
On January 19, 2025, Bor was behind the wheel—reportedly after drinking. He drove at nearly 80 mph, colliding with the car Katie was in. The state’s attorney, citing video evidence and witness statements, confirmed Bor had been drinking earlier that evening. Katie died on the spot, while her friend succumbed to injuries the following day.
This incident highlights the policies enacted by Governor JB Pritzker, protective measures that seem to prioritize illegal immigrants over public safety.
Illinois is considered a sanctuary state, meaning it often doesn’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement unless serious crimes are involved. This creates a space where individuals, even with criminal backgrounds, can remain without legal consequences. The man responsible for my daughter’s death should never have been in this situation. Politicians like Pritzker do not safeguard immigrant families; instead, they enable criminals, endangering both citizens and other immigrants.
This was not just a tragic accident; it was preventable. Political leaders in sanctuary states often put ideology ahead of common sense. Katie’s death is a direct result of choices made by elected officials to shield criminals from justice. Now, my family faces the aftermath while they maintain the facade that nothing is wrong.
In terms of justice, it seems elusive. According to a Champaign County attorney, the maximum sentence Bor could face is 43 years. Some charges require serving only 50% of the sentence, possibly reducing his actual time to about 20-28 years. Katie and her friends lost a collective 100 years of life, while this man may walk free in a decade or two. That doesn’t feel like justice; it’s a significant failure.
Our country is in dire need of change. I support President Trump’s vision for overhauling our immigration system. We need to invest heavily in border security, close asylum loopholes, and prioritize the removal of repeat offenders. Additionally, employing thousands more border patrol agents and enhancing border infrastructure and surveillance technology is essential to prevent criminals from crossing.
This isn’t just a political issue; it’s about safety. It’s crucial to ensure that what happened to Katie doesn’t happen to anyone else. For too long, dangerous sanctuary policies have allowed violent immigrants to slip through the cracks, compromising the safety of American citizens. This has to stop.
Katie didn’t get another chance. She didn’t receive a trial. There was no mercy for her; she simply vanished from our lives. I refuse to remain silent. I won’t pretend everything is fine, and I won’t stop speaking out until these harmful policies are eradicated.
If you advocate for sanctuary policies, you must recognize what they entail. They’re not about compassion; they’re hazardous. And they’re costing lives.
Katie was invaluable, as are all Americans.
