The mother of Sheridan Gorman has publicly criticized Democratic lawmakers who support sanctuary city policies, particularly their behavior during a congressional hearing where she shared her daughter’s tragic story. Jessica Anne Gorman spoke about her daughter’s death, which occurred in March 2026, while attending a gathering in Washington, D.C.
Key officials from the Justice Department and the administration were present, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and others, gathered to honor victims of violent crime.
Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old student at Loyola University Chicago, was shot and killed while spending time with friends near a pier in Chicago. Jose Medina, a Venezuelan who entered the U.S. illegally and had been released after a previous arrest for shoplifting, has been charged with her murder.
During her testimony, Jessica Gorman expressed her disdain for Democratic lawmakers who advocate for protecting undocumented immigrants from federal immigration enforcement. She recalled how, while speaking about her daughter’s death, she could hear laughter from the lawmakers in attendance.
“And I thought, ‘Boy, it just keeps happening,’” she remarked. Specifically, she criticized Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., for saying that the hearing was the fourth of its kind and implying there were “many other things we could be doing.”
“We were all offended by Representative Jayapal’s comments — telling me and other families affected by loss that there are other priorities,” Jessica Gorman said. “They give us five minutes to share our stories of loss. She listened to four before mine and seemed uninterested in listening to anymore.”
Jessica Gorman also took aim at Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-NY, accusing him of appearing to nap during the hearing.
Another speaker at the event was Stephen Federico, who described the loss of his daughter, Logan Federico, who was killed while visiting friends at the University of South Carolina. He expressed deep frustration over the criminal justice system.
Logan Federico was allegedly shot by Alexander Dickey, a career criminal with multiple arrests who was free despite his record. “My daughter wasn’t killed by an illegal,” Stephen Federico said. “She was killed by an American criminal who had been arrested 39 times. How does that make sense?”
“Can anyone explain why someone like him is still on the streets?” he continued. “It’s all due to issues with the system — from fingerprint problems to lenient judges and prosecutors.”
Fox News Digital has attempted to reach out to Jayapal’s office for a response.
