A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing titled 'Protecting American Citizenship II: Federalism, Sanctuary Cities, and the Rule of Law' will convene Wednesday to scrutinize sanctuary city policies in the wake of the fatal shooting of Sheridan Gorman, a Chicago college student. The alleged perpetrator, Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national, was previously detained twice in 2023 under the Biden administration but was released both times, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Angel Parent to Testify
Joe Abraham, an Angel parent whose daughter Katie Abraham was killed in a hit-and-run crash involving an illegal immigrant, will testify at the hearing. Abraham has been vocal about the dangers of sanctuary city policies, which he believes contributed to both his daughter's death and Gorman's murder. 'Once again, we are confronted with the possibility that this tragedy, like the one that took my daughter, might have been prevented,' Abraham stated in a recent opinion piece.
'Sanctuary jurisdictions are just not going to tell ICE when criminals, including rapists and murderers, are being released from jail in prison. That's insane.' — Sen. Eric Schmitt
Focus on Illinois Policies
The hearing is expected to scrutinize policies under Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who has championed sanctuary city measures. Abraham has demanded accountability, sending a letter to Pritzker seeking answers about these policies but has yet to receive a response.
Witnesses at the hearing will include Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, and former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. The hearing aims to explore the legal and policy implications of sanctuary cities, their impact on federal immigration enforcement, and public safety concerns.