Sheridan Gorman’s killing reopened a raw debate on immigration enforcement after authorities say a Venezuelan national, Jose Medina, who had been stopped at the border and later arrested in Chicago, was not deported and allegedly murdered the Loyola University freshman. Senators traded blame on who should’ve acted and whether current policies let dangerous people stay. Republican senators pressed that this was an avoidable tragedy that points to broken enforcement and misplaced priorities.
Gorman was a Loyola University of Chicago student when she was allegedly killed by 25-year-old Jose Medina. U.S. Border Patrol took Medina into custody on May 9, 2023, but he was released into the country under the Biden administration, according to Department of Homeland Security records. That release is at the center of the outrage from Republican lawmakers.
A few weeks later, Medina was arrested in Chicago on a shoplifting charge and then released on June 19, 2023, DHS said. He later missed a court appearance on that charge and a warrant was issued before Gorman’s death, according to reporting on the local case. Those missed enforcement steps have become a focal point for critics who say the system failed to follow through.
“Shoplifting in and of itself is not a violent crime. It’s not an indicator of a person that’s leaning toward violent crime,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., when asked about Medina’s case and whether he should’ve been deported prior to Gorman’s murder. Durbin’s comment underscored Democrats’ broader argument that not every arrest should trigger removal. Critics say that view misses patterns and risks when release happens repeatedly.
“You’re asking me to speculate on a bunch of things and I can’t answer that,” said Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nev., when asked if Gorman’s killer, and other illegal immigrant murderers who had significant criminal records at the time of their arrests, should have been deported before people got hurt. That dodge frustrated Republicans who wanted clear accountability from Democratic senators. Voters are hearing repeated calls for firmer enforcement from the right.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., blamed prior deportation drives for distracting federal agents from tracking truly dangerous individuals. “I think that if Trump cleared out Chicago and if ICE did their job, he wouldn’t be here, right?” Duckworth said as she got onto an elevator on Capitol Hill. “But they deported people who are not… [unintelligible].”
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., tried for a middle ground but also raised concerns about how deportations are handled. “Do I think violent criminals should be deported? Yes,” Slotkin said, adding it is an “easy” call to deport someone who has been “accused and properly prosecuted.” But Slotkin added, “Innocent civilians who are protesting their government and using their freedom of speech should not be fingered and booted out.”
Several Democrats did say violent offenders who enter and remain unlawfully should face removal and prosecution. “Anybody who violates, or creates crime in this country – particularly kills somebody – should not only be held accountable in the United States, but, yes, there should be immigration enforcement against that individual,” Cortez-Masto said. Even sympathetic lawmakers stressed that capacity and judgment matter in enforcement decisions.
“Every community deserves to feel safe, and I think people who commit violent crimes should not be allowed to either be in our country, or to be among our communities,” added Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md. Sen. Durbin qualified his stance by calling for careful screening: “We ought to do a careful examination of people coming into this country and those who want to stay in this country,” adding that, “If they are dangerous to the community, they need to be denied entry or taken out of the country later.”
Republican senators wasted no time laying blame at Democratic policy choices and enforcement priorities. “It’s tragic and it was avoidable,” Cruz said when approached about Gorman’s death and Medina not being deported. “The Democrats are so radical they prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens.”
“It’s disgusting that these people say, ‘Oh, they act like they care about Americans.’ But then you look at their actions – they care about people who are here violently hurting Americans,” Scott complained. Their words reflect a broader GOP argument that the administration and congressional Democrats must shift priorities toward protecting citizens and communities. Lawmakers on both sides now face pressure to explain what changes, if any, would prevent another shock like this.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.