The mother of a college student slain by an illegal alien went off on sanctuary city policies, accusing them of being complicit in her daughter’s death. 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman was a student at Loyola University when she was shot and killed during a shooting at Rogers Park beach in March. Gorman was at the beach with a group of friends hoping to see the Northern Lights when they were approached by a man from behind from behind a nearby lighthouse wearing dark clothing and a mask. He shot at Gorman and her friends, striking her in the back. She was found bleeding and unresponsive by the lighthouse and died at the hospital. The man charged with the shooting, Venezuelan national Jose Medina, has been in the United States illegally since 2023 and has a criminal record. He has plead not guilty to the shooting.

In an emotional testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement, Sheridan’s mother, Jessica Gorman, testified that she believed Illinois’s sanctuary city policies enabled Medina to continue to remain illegally in the country, contributing to Sheridan’s death. “This story is about my Sheridan. It’s about how failed border policies, sanctuary city laws, and twisted leaders refused to cooperate with ICE. They sent her to her grave,” said Gorman, describing Sheridan as “beautiful” and “funny, faithful, loving.”

Sanctuary city policies do not permit local authorities to notify ICE when they come upon illegal immigrants. “Explain why cooperation with ICE was too much to ask for but asking our American parents to bury our children is somehow acceptable. As me. I just, I need you to tell me,” said Gorman. “Even after committing a crime and having an outstanding warrant, he was left on the streets of Chicago to murder my innocent American child. Jose Medina … should not have even been in this country. When did protecting our American citizens stop being your first priority? I want an explanation. I need one, and I deserve one,” she pleaded. Joe Abraham, whose 20-year-old daughter Katie died in a hit-and-run crash with an illegal alien, also spoke during the hearing.

Rep. Mike Lawler (Rep, NY) released a statement in support of Gorman. “Today, Jessica Gorman sat before this committee, a grieving mother forced to share the most painful moment of her life,” wrote Lawler. He blasted Democrats, claiming they “dismissed the importance of this hearing.” “They said the details of Sheridan’s murder were not relevant. They offered no real condolences and, worst of all, they continued to defend the sanctuary policies that enabled Sheridan’s killer to remain on our streets,” he wrote. He accused sanctuary policies for allowing her death, noting that Medina had been caught at the border and later caught for shoplifting but had been released back into the community. “No mother should ever have to bury her daughter because politicians chose open borders and sanctuary policies over public safety,” he stated. “The same outrage you feel for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, you should feel for Sheridan Gorman and Laken Riley and all of the angel families.”