Sheridan’s alleged killer, Jose Medina, illegally crossed the Biden administration’s open border into Texas in May 2023. When the U.S. Border Patrol encountered him near the border, Medina (who had lived in Colombia since 2016) indicated he did not fear persecution if deported. Nevertheless, he was released into the U.S. and bused to Chicago.

There, he was arrested one month later on shoplifting charges at Macy’s. Chicago police did not notify ICE but instead released him. Medina failed to appear in court for his shoplifting charge, and Chicago issued a warrant for his arrest. But again, Chicago did not notify ICE. His warrant was active in March when Medina allegedly shot Sheridan in the back of the neck as she was fleeing him and the gun he brandished.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson brags of the city’s sanctuary policies, which prohibit Chicago law enforcement from sharing information with federal agents enforcing immigration law. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is likewise proud of the state’s don’t-ask-don’t-tell illegal immigration sanctuary policies.

Shortly after Sheridan’s death, Chicago Alderwoman Maria Hadden inexplicably suggested in an interview that Sheridan was in the “wrong place at the wrong time” and may have startled her killer. The insulting comment drew a response from the Gorman family, which began a series of strong, moving public statements and interviews rebuking open-border and sanctuary policies.

In her testimony to Congress, Jessica described Sheridan as the guardian of the school’s buddy bench. Sheridan’s teacher told Jessica that every day at recess, instead of heading straight to the swings or joining in a game of kickball, Sheridan hung back, watching the bench in case someone needed her. The teacher said kids didn’t even have a chance to fully sit down on the bench before Sheridan would rush over to take their hand and pull them away to play. Girls, boys, first-graders, or third-graders, it did not matter to this kindergartner.

“If someone felt invisible, Sheridan saw them,” Jessica said. “That is who she was until the day she was cruelly stolen from us.”

Despite having a written copy of this touching story already in hand, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), ranking member of the immigration subcommittee, complained in her introductory remarks that this was the fourth hearing on sanctuary policies, and that members had other things they could be doing — like, apparently, targeting ICE for enforcing the laws passed by Congress.

Members from one side of the aisle then proceeded to interrupt Rep. Mike Lawler’s (R-NY) introduction of Jessica Gorman, his New York constituent, demanding he not give a speech about how open-border, pro-crime, and sanctuary policies led to Sheridan’s death, but instead just introduce Jessica already.

Jessica read parts of her written testimony and went off script to admonish members’ rude, insensitive comments and behavior. In response to Jayapal’s complaint of having to attend a fourth hearing on sanctuary policies, Jessica chided, “Thanks for telling me without telling me that you’re here, but you don’t want to be. This is the fourth time you’ve had Angel families. Thanks for telling me you don’t care.”

She spoke well over the allotted five minutes of remarks given to witnesses, but members wisely did not dare stop her.

In a subsequent interview, Jessica said she was shocked to see one member asleep during the hearing; others on their phones, ignoring the witnesses, including Joe Abraham, Angel father of Katie Abraham; and several members coming and going during the hearing.

Throughout the hearing, Jessica made piercing statements through righteous anger:

“When did protecting our American citizens stop being your first priority? And even more important, why did protecting our citizens stop being your first priority? I want an explanation. I need one. I deserve one.”

Added Jessica: “In what world does the girl who saw everyone become invisible to the people in power responsible for protecting her?”

‘OCT. 7 ISN’T OVER YET’

In the end, Jessica brought her testimony back to the buddy bench.

“I think Congress needs one. I think every governor, mayor, sanctuary city official, and politician shifting blame and interest and hiding behind their slogans and talking points should have to sit on one … Come sit on a simple bench. The kind a lonely child would sit on when she needs someone to see her. I challenge you all to sit there with me. Take my hand. Look me in the eye. And explain it because I just don’t understand.

“Explain why people here illegally matter more than your American citizens. Explain why sanctuary policies matter more than my Sheridan’s life. Explain why cooperation with ICE was too much to ask, but asking our American parents to bury their children is somehow acceptable. Explain why the little girl who stalked the buddy bench was not protected by the politicians placed into power to protect her.

“My Sheridan spent her life choosing others. Today, I am asking this committee, this Congress, and our country to choose us.”

Indeed.

The Gormans are having a buddy bench built. Many politicians owe both Sheridan and Jessica — and every other Angel family — time on it and to honestly answer the question: Why do illegal immigrants matter more than your American citizens?  

Lora Ries is the director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation.