Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing criticism following remarks he made after the killing of 18-year-old college student Sheridan Gorman, a tragedy that has intensified debate over immigration policy and public safety.
Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was fatally shot in March near a beach in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Authorities allege that the suspect, identified as Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national, opened fire on a group of individuals before striking Gorman as she attempted to flee.
According to police, the incident occurred in the early morning hours near Tobey Prinz Beach. Investigators say the suspect approached wearing a mask and began shooting toward the group. Gorman was hit in the back and pronounced dead at the scene.
The case has drawn national attention not only because of the apparently random circumstances of the killing, but also due to the suspect’s immigration history. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said Medina-Medina had previously been encountered at the southern border in 2023 and released into the United States. He was later arrested in Chicago on a shoplifting charge, but was not transferred to federal custody.
Many have pointed to Chicago’s sanctuary-style policies as enabling the tragedy, arguing that local authorities’ limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement allowed the suspect to remain in the community.
During a recent press conference, Johnson was questioned about comments he made at a rally where he emphasized the need to protect immigrant communities. The remarks coincided with Gorman’s funeral, prompting criticism from some who viewed the timing as inappropriate.
In response, Johnson acknowledged the tragedy of Gorman’s death and expressed sympathy for her family, calling the loss of a child devastating. He subsequently doubled down on his broader message, insisting that protecting constitutional rights and ensuring the safety of illegal immigrants didn’t contradict goals to do the same for citizens.
The mayor also used the case to call for for federal action, demanding Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to legal status for illegal immigrants. He suggested responsibility for failures at the local level belonged to the federal government.
The debate reflects ongoing national divisions over immigration policy, particularly the role of sanctuary jurisdictions like Chicago. Supporters of such policies argue they build trust between immigrants and law enforcement, while opponents contend they hinder cooperation with federal agencies and pose risks to public safety.
As the investigation into Gorman’s death continues, the case will likely remain central in broader discussions about immigration enforcement, local governance, and how best to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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Exactly what “constitutional rights “ do illegal aliens have, in lawless Chicago or anywhere else in the USA?
Safety of illegal immigrants? The greater part of the attacks against illegals have been perpetuated by other illegals.
And a great many of the attacks against legal Americans have been by illegals too.
How about the people in OUR government ( the AMERICAN GOVERNMENT … ostensibly the government ‘OF the people, BY the people, FOR the people’ ) taking care of the LEGAL American people.
If the illegals weren’t here, we wouldn’t have this problem!
Send them back to where they came from ( and make them pay to have this done ), and allow LEGAL immigration ONLY, as it was previously done in most cases.