Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has stated that “real failures” in the immigration system contributed to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman, while shifting primary responsibility to the federal government and defending the state’s sanctuary policies.
Gorman was shot and killed last week near Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, close to the Loyola campus, while walking with friends around 1 a.m. to view the Northern Lights and the Chicago skyline. According to prosecutors, the group spotted 25-year-old Jose Medina hiding behind a lighthouse. As they fled, Medina fired a shot that struck Gorman in the back; the bullet exited through her neck, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Medina, a Venezuelan national who federal authorities say entered the U.S. illegally in May 2023, was arrested within days and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Police matched shell casings from the scene to a handgun found in his possession. He is currently in custody under law enforcement supervision while hospitalized for tuberculosis and missed an initial court appearance as a result.
The case has intensified debate over immigration enforcement after authorities revealed Medina’s prior contact with the justice system. In June 2023, shortly after entering the country, he was arrested for shoplifting—a misdemeanor—in Chicago. Like many such cases, he was released on his own recognizance. A warrant was later issued when he failed to appear in court, but he was not detained by federal immigration authorities prior to the shooting.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed condolences to Gorman’s family while continuing to support policies favored by city voters, including the full abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During a media event, Johnson unveiled a new snowplow labeled “Abolish ICE” in large letters—the winning name chosen by more than 30,000 participants in a public contest. The unveiling occurred amid questions about the timing, given the recent tragedy.
Governor Pritzker broke his silence on the matter, agreeing there have been “real failures” but attributing them primarily to national shortcomings rather than state or local actions. “Those failures, of course, extend beyond the borders of Illinois,” Pritzker said. “They’re national failures—a failure to have comprehensive immigration reform, a failure of the president to follow his own edict to go after the worst of the worst. In my view, we have a lot of work that we need to continue to do.”
Pritzker emphasized that immigration enforcement is the federal government’s responsibility, while state and local law enforcement focus on catching and prosecuting violent criminals. He rejected blame placed on Illinois’ sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local police and federal immigration officers when non-violent offenders are in custody.
Republicans have countered that notification to ICE after Medina’s 2023 shoplifting arrest could have led to his detention and removal, potentially preventing the tragedy. They argue that sanctuary policies and broader open-border approaches enabled the incident by shielding individuals with criminal histories.
Gorman’s family has expressed heartbreak and demanded accountability across local, state, and federal levels, placing blame on policies that they say allowed Medina to remain free despite his immigration status and prior warrant.
Chicago police detectives quickly identified and arrested Medina using ballistic evidence. Federal authorities confirmed his undocumented status and prior entry into the U.S.
The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions over sanctuary policies in Chicago and Illinois, especially as the city continues to grapple with public safety concerns and the visible symbolism of the newly named “Abolish ICE” snowplow.