Plummer, Bryant, and McClure Call for Action Following Murder of Sheridan Gorman, Renew Push to Repeal Illinois TRUST Act

In response to the tragic killing of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman in Chicago last week, State Senators Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville), Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), and Steve McClure (R-Springfield) held a press conference calling for justice for Sheridan and renewed action to repeal Illinois' TRUST Act and related sanctuary policies they say have endangered public safety.

"Like so many people across Illinois and around the country, we are mourning the loss of Sheridan Gorman," said Senator Plummer. "This is just another heartbreaking reminder of the dangers posed by Governor Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and the Majority Democrats' immigration policies that protect illegal aliens over the people of Illinois."

Gorman, a Loyola University freshman, was shot to death late last week along the lakefront in Chicago by Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela.

The Senators argued that Sheridan's death was preventable and pointed to what they described as repeated failures by the Pritzker Administration's sanctuary policies that prioritize the protection of illegal immigrants over the safety of Illinois citizens.

"This young college student had her whole life ahead of her," said Senator McClure. "She was a person, not a political talking point or a statistic. Because of the complete and total failure of Governor Pritzker and his Democratic allies, she will never get to live out that life."

According to the Senators, the suspect in Sheridan's killing was in the country illegally, had a documented criminal history, had previously been arrested in Chicago, failed to appear for court, and remained the subject of an outstanding warrant for more than two years.

"Sheridan was exactly where she was supposed to be, with classmates near her college campus," McClure said. "The person who was in the wrong place was the individual accused of taking her life, someone who should have been deported long ago."

Senator Terri Bryant said Illinois law has made it harder for local and state authorities to work with federal immigration officials and prevent dangerous offenders from remaining in communities.

"The TRUST Act, as expanded under Governor Pritzker, has created a dangerous divide between local law enforcement and ICE," Bryant said. "That lack of coordination makes it easier for repeat offenders to evade detention or deportation and remain in our communities. This is not just a policy failure. It is a failure to protect Illinois families."

Together, the lawmakers called on Governor Pritzker and the Democratic-controlled legislature to advance Senate Bill 1316, Republican legislation which would repeal the TRUST Act and restore the ability of local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in cases involving serious criminal offenses.

"Every day these policies remain in place is another day innocent lives are put at risk," Bryant said. "It is past time for Governor Pritzker and legislative Democrats to prioritize the safety of Illinois residents over radical sanctuary policies."

"Today, we stand with Sheridan's family," Plummer said. "Governor Pritzker is pathologically incapable of taking responsibility for his failed policies, but this tragedy should be a wake-up call. I urge Governor Pritzker and his Democrat majority to support our legislation and work with Republican lawmakers to make Illinois communities and families safe.

Video of the full press conference can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBC6L-hLqx8