Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office issued a statement on March 23, 2026, responding to the killing of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman by Venezuelan national José Medina-Medina. The office expressed condolences to Gorman’s family and community and condemned the violent crime, emphasizing the expectation that Medina-Medina be held accountable under the law.
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Pritzker’s statement also criticized former President Donald Trump for politicizing the case. The governor’s office called on the Trump administration to focus on reinstating federal funds to support public safety efforts instead of using such tragedies for political purposes. Medina-Medina faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a weapon, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.
Medina-Medina, an undocumented migrant, was previously arrested for shoplifting, raising discussion about immigration enforcement policies. Illinois, under Pritzker, enforces the TRUST Act, which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities by preventing state or local officials from detaining individuals beyond their scheduled release without a federal criminal warrant. Chicago is designated as a sanctuary city, complicating detainer enforcement.
The case also highlights the Laken Riley Act, signed into law by Trump, mandating that undocumented immigrants be held for federal transfer even if accused but not convicted. Pritzker has not confirmed whether Illinois authorities will comply with this law in Medina-Medina’s case.
Medina-Medina was scheduled for a detention hearing on Monday but the case was postponed due to his quarantine, reportedly for a possible tuberculosis infection, according to Chicago police sources. The incident continues to spotlight tensions over sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement in Illinois.
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