McClintock: Democratic Sanctuary Laws Enable Criminal Aliens to Target American Families

Representative Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) accused Democrats of prioritizing political power over public safety Wednesday during a House hearing that featured families of Americans killed by illegal aliens.

The hearing highlighted the case of Sheridan Gorman, a college freshman shot to death in Chicago earlier this year. According to U.S. authorities, Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national with no legal status in the United States, is charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses in connection with Gorman’s killing. McClintock stated that sanctuary laws released Medina back into the community after he was detained by law enforcement. “That’s why he was there and able to murder Sheridan in such a cold-blooded way,” the representative said.

McClintock noted the presence of approximately 10 “Angel Families” at the hearing, each carrying photos of loved ones killed by illegal aliens and described as being deeply affected. He criticized Democrats for allegedly supporting lax immigration enforcement to gain political advantage, arguing that officials prioritize voter registration over public safety. “Their power is so much more important than any of our lives,” McClintock said.

The representative also referenced Stephanie Minter, a victim killed by an illegal alien with prior arrests, and condemned Fairfax County, Virginia, officials for failing to notify federal immigration authorities after the incident. McClintock linked recent federal charges against members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang to deliberate policy choices by Democrats, stating that violent crimes committed by illegal aliens were not due to incompetence but a “deliberate plan” to open borders and establish sanctuary laws shielding criminal aliens from deportation.

Citing ICE statistics, McClintock reported that last year, sanctuary jurisdictions refused to honor at least 17,864 ICE detainer requests for individuals accused of crimes. In his warning, McClintock stated: “America needs to wake up pretty fast.” He cautioned that if Democrats return to power, the policies leading to these tragedies would resume, and the consequences would be “absolutely catastrophic.”