Eighteen-year-old Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was shot and killed on March 19 near a pier in the city's Rogers Park area. The suspect, 25-year-old Jose Medina-Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, and released into the U.S. under the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Medina-Medina was later arrested for shoplifting in June 2023 but was not turned over to ICE due to Chicago's sanctuary policies. He was charged with Gorman's murder on March 23.
The Gorman family has criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for their responses to the tragedy, stating that her death was preventable and demanding accountability. The family also highlighted systemic failures in immigration enforcement and local policies. Meanwhile, Illinois is a sanctuary state, and local law enforcement is generally prohibited from participating in immigration enforcement.
Taxpayers reportedly funded housing for Medina-Medina at a city-sponsored shelter for migrants. The suspect was also treated for tuberculosis at a local hospital before his arrest. The Loyola Phoenix, the university's student newspaper, apologized for initially describing Medina-Medina as an 'illegal immigrant,' stating that such language does not align with their values.
Governor Pritzker acknowledged 'real failures' in immigration enforcement but criticized the Trump administration for not following through on its policies. He emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform and local prosecution of violent crimes. The Gorman family's hometown, Yorktown Heights, New York, lit up homes in green, one of the school's colors, in honor of Sheridan.
Angel Parents, who have lost family members to crimes involving illegal immigrants, have also criticized Illinois' sanctuary laws, calling the tragedy preventable. They demand changes to policies that they believe contribute to such incidents.