A heated House hearing on the deadly consequences of sanctuary city policies erupted into a partisan shouting match this week after a Republican lawmaker detailed the immigration failures that allegedly enabled the murder of an American teenager.
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement convened Tuesday to hear from victims and their families about the real-world impact of Democrat-backed sanctuary policies in states such as California and Illinois, according to The Blaze. Though not a member of the subcommittee, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) was granted permission to participate so he could introduce one of his constituents, witness Jessica Gorman, whose daughter was recently killed in Chicago.
Gormans daughter, Sheridan, a freshman at Loyola University, was walking with friends on the morning of March 19 when she was gunned down on a city street. The suspect, 25-year-old Jose Medina-Medina, is accused of approaching the 18-year-old, pulling a firearm, and shooting her in the neck.
Federal authorities have confirmed that Medina-Medina is an illegal alien from Venezuela who now faces charges including murder, attempted murder, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. According to the criminal complaint, Border Patrol encountered Medina-Medina in the El Paso Sector in May 2023 and, rather than being removed, he was released into the United States the following May.
Lawler, highlighting the human cost of lax border enforcement and sanctuary protections, opened his remarks with a pointed rebuke of federal and local failures. "Jessica should not be here today. She should not be testifying before Congress. She should be back in New York with her daughters Madeline and Sheridan, enjoying a quiet Tuesday afternoon in the summer," Lawler said.
After the New York Republican argued that the refusal to enforce immigration law set the stage for Sheridans death and that Congress owes her mother an apology, committee leaders tried to rein him in and asked him to limit himself to a brief introduction. Lawler instead pressed ahead, outlining multiple points at which Medina-Medina could have been deported before allegedly killing Sheridan, prompting an interruption from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).
"This is not an introduction. It's a speech," Raskin snapped, objecting to Lawlers extended remarks. "You should be ashamed of yourselves," Lawler shot back, adding, "It is disgraceful. Her mother is here precisely because you have failed to do your jobs. You wonder why we had four hearings? Its because you don't understand the consequence of sanctuary policy."
The room briefly quieted after the initial clash, but the calm did not last. Lawler escalated his criticism, accusing Democrats of selective outrage when it comes to victims of crime tied to illegal immigration.
"While some of my colleagues may not want to hear the truth, the same outrage you feel about Renee Good and Alex Pretti, you should feel about Sheridan Gorman and Laken Riley and every angel family in this country," Lawler said, invoking other high-profile victims. Raskin shouted back, "I do feel that outrage!"
Lawler was unconvinced, arguing that Democrats policy positions betray their professed concern. "If you did, you would not support sanctuary jurisdictions!" he yelled, as tempers flared across the dais. Raskin then exploded, declaring, "You don't belong in this committee! You should get the hell out of here!" and adding, "... You're full of it!"
Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) rushed to Raskins defense and condemned what she called Lawlers "outrageous outburst," claiming it violated a prior agreement between Republicans and Democrats that had allowed Lawler to participate. While Democrats focused on procedural niceties and decorum, Gormans written testimony underscored the deeper issue: a government that refused to secure the border and cities that refused to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
"My Sheridan would be alive if the man accused of killing her had not been allowed to come into this country by the previous administration and if Chicagos sanctuary city policies hadnt allowed him to remain on our streets to kill. Congress needs to act," Gorman wrote, directly tying her daughters death to federal and local policy choices. She closed with a plea that cut through the partisan theatrics: "If the people who failed her would rather look away, then I am asking the rest of you to look right at her. Say her name. Tell her story. Demand better."
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