Teen’s tragic killing by illegal immigrant becomes flashpoint in battle for control of Congress

A teenage girl’s tragic death, allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant who was previously deported from the U.S., has now become a political flashpoint in her hometown.

Sheridan Gorman’s grieving parents made their heartbreaking plea for change directly to the two candidates running to represent their district in suburban New York during an electoral debate earlier this week. They asked Democrat Cait Conley and incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., whether they supported ending New York State’s law barring local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The 18-year-old Loyola University student was shot and killed while walking with friends late at night near her Chicago college campus in March of this year. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said the accused, Jose Medina, is a Venezuelan national who came to the U.S. illegally in May 2023 and was released by the prior administration.

He was arrested for shoplifting in Chicago the next month but released again, DHS said. Both Chicago and Illinois are sanctuary jurisdictions, meaning law enforcement there are also barred from cooperating with ICE.

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Gorman’s killing fast became a rallying cry for supporters of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

Lawler, who is fighting an uphill battle for a third term representing New York’s 17th Congressional District, has also argued it is an example of what could happen more often if Democrats win control on Capitol Hill.

“Look, I’ve been very clear there should be reforms of ICE. They should wear body cameras. They should not wear masks. They should wear uniforms. They shouldn’t be going into places like the Home Depot parking lot. They should be very targeted in what they are doing. And states like New York should be cooperating with them to deport criminal illegal aliens,” Lawler told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. “So look, I think the challenge here will be if Democrats win, they will do everything they can to return to the Biden-era of lax immigration policy, lax enforcement, and try to cut off the resources of ICE and [Border Patrol], and I, for one, just will not support that.”

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His district could be one of the few that decides control of the House for the latter half of President Trump’s final term.

Gorman’s parents tearfully said during his debate against Conley this week, “The man charged with her murder was here illegally and had previously been arrested for a crime and released under Chicago’s sanctuary policies. A simple five-second phone call between local and federal law enforcement would have saved her life.”

Conley responded to them first, “My heart absolutely breaks, and what happened to Sheridan is inexcusable. Government failed her. And for that, we have to make sure that that doesn’t happen again.”

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“Immigration enforcement is essential,” she said, though added, “What is happening under this administration, unfortunately, is not a focus on violent criminals, but what we’re seeing is them rolling up people like grandmas and nurses, people in our communities.”

Lawler then accused Conley of dodging the question, adding, “She does support Kathy Hochul’s new law, and she would not support federal legislation to end sanctuary policies. Let me be very clear: I stand with you. I am against Kathy Hochul’s disastrous new law, and I support any legislation that will end sanctuary jurisdictions in this country.”

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It came weeks after the Gormans took the stage alongside Lawler at the GOP’s 2026 midterm convention in Dallas, Texas.

“The Gormans have more courage than any Democrat member of Congress who voted against protecting our citizens from criminal illegals,” Lawler said in introducing them. “They are not running for office, but their story — Sheridan’s story — is the direct result of bad policy. Policies we cannot afford to get back to every again.”

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The teenager’s story again popped up in new ads released by Lawler’s campaign on Wednesday.

In one of the spots, Gorman’s mother tearfully tells the viewer, “He just shot her. Just shot her. Hunted her down. I thought I knew what sanctuary city policies are, I didn’t.”

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“The sanctuary policies being pushed by Kathy Hochul and Democrats killed our daughter,” her father said. “I couldn’t protect her from these policies.”

Her mother added, “But Mike Lawler can.”

Illegal immigration was one of the top issues in 2024, and Republicans are trying to harness the same backlash from voters who opposed the Biden administration’s more lax border policies.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Conley’s campaign and to House Democrats’ elections arm for a response.