Teen's tragic killing by illegal immigrant becomes flashpoint in battle for control of Congress
Teenager’s death in Chicago sparks debate over sanctuary‑city policies in New York
An 18‑year‑old student from Loyola University was shot and killed last March while walking with friends near the campus in Chicago. The suspect, Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally in May 2023, was released by federal authorities after a prior deportation. He was later arrested for shoplifting in Chicago but again released. Chicago and the state of Illinois are designated sanctuary jurisdictions, meaning local police are prohibited from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, a policy that the Gorman family says contributed to the tragedy.
Sheridan Gorman’s parents, who live in the 17th Congressional District of New York, brought their grief to the center of a political debate earlier this week. During the forum, the parents asked both candidates—Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler and Democratic challenger Cait Conley—whether they would support ending New York State’s law that bars local law‑enforcement agencies from collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“I can’t let this happen to another family,” one parent said. “The man charged with my daughter’s murder was here illegally, had been arrested for a crime and released under Chicago’s sanctuary policies. A simple five‑second phone call between local and federal law enforcement could have saved her life.”
Conley responded with a statement of sympathy and a call for stronger enforcement. “My heart absolutely breaks,” she told reporters. “What happened to Sheridan is inexcusable. The government failed her, and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen again.” Conley added that immigration enforcement is essential, but she criticized the current administration for targeting “grandmas and nurses, people in our communities,” instead of focusing on violent criminals. She also reaffirmed her support for a state law that prohibits local police from working with ICE and said she would not back federal legislation that would end sanctuary policies.
Lawler, meanwhile, pressed the point that a Democratic victory on a national level could reverse the hard‑line immigration reforms he says are needed. “If Democrats take control of Congress, they’ll try to return to the Biden‑era of lax immigration policy, cut off resources for ICE and Border Patrol,” he told Fox News Digital. “I am against Kathy Hochul’s new law and I support legislation that will end sanctuary jurisdictions across the country.” Lawler has repeatedly called for reforms to ICE, including body cameras, uniforms and targeted enforcement, and for states like New York to cooperate with federal immigration authorities to deport criminal illegal aliens.
The debate was part of a larger political moment in which the Gorman family’s story has become a rallying point for Republican candidates seeking to harness voter backlash against what they see as a lax border policy. The family appeared at the GOP’s 2026 midterm convention in Dallas, where Lawler praised their courage. “The Gormans have more courage than any Democrat member of Congress who voted against protecting our citizens from criminal illegals,” he said. “Their story is the direct result of bad policy that we can’t afford to repeat.”
In campaign ads released by Lawler’s team, the parents recount the day of the shooting. “He just shot her. Just shot her. Hunted her down,” Gorman’s mother says in one spot. “I thought I knew what sanctuary city policies were, I didn’t.” Her father added, “The sanctuary policies being pushed by Kathy Hochul and Democrats killed our daughter. I couldn’t protect her from these policies, but Mike Lawler can.”
The incident is part of a broader national conversation about sanctuary cities. In Chicago, local police are not permitted to share information with ICE under state law, a policy that has drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. In 2024, the issue remains one of the most heated topics for Republicans looking to differentiate themselves from the Biden administration’s approach to immigration.
The murder of Sheridan Gorman has been cited by several lawmakers as evidence that current policies fail to protect communities. While the federal government has not yet released an official statement on how the case might influence new legislation, the debate in New York’s 17th District reflects a growing trend of local politics intersecting with national immigration policy discussions.
For now, the focus remains on the legal proceedings against Jose Medina and the ongoing calls from Gorman’s family and their political allies for a reevaluation of sanctuary‑city laws. As the election cycle heats up, the case is likely to remain a key talking point for both parties as they craft their messages on immigration enforcement.