‘She was not a statistic’: Illinois Dems called out by ‘Angel Dad’ over daughter’s death by illegal immigrant

A grieving father criticized Illinois Democrats during a congressional committee hearing Wednesday for ignoring the murder of his daughter by an illegal immigrant.

Angel dad Joe Abraham testified about sanctuary city laws he says led to the deaths of his daughter Katie Abraham and Loyola college student Sheridan Gorman in Illinois.

Katie was killed last year when Julio Cucul-Dol was drunk at the wheel and crashed into her vehicle. The illegal had previously been deported to Guatemala in 2016. He was later sentenced to 30 years in prison for the hit-and-run crash.

Joe Abraham, father of Katie Abraham who was killed by an illegal alien, calls out Democrat Senator Dick Durbin — his OWN Senator — for not addressing him in a hearing about sanctuary city policies.⁩ pic.twitter.com/MfGkOh8lIp

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 25, 2026

“What I don’t understand is why my senator of Illinois, Mr. Durbin … I haven’t heard two words from him toward me … kind of amazing,” Abraham said.

Former Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy is blasting state Democrat leaders for prioritizing political narratives over victims. He’s running for U.S. Senate against Democrat Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin.

“Joe Abraham’s testimony was heartbreaking, and it should be a wake-up call,” said Tracy. “No parent should have to beg their elected officials to acknowledge their child’s death at the hands of an illegal immigrant. But that’s exactly what’s happening in Illinois.

“Too many Illinois politicians like Juliana Stratton are working to serve political insiders, activist groups and leftist narratives rather than the people who voted for them. Changing this pattern starts when Illinoisans insist on it at the ballot box.

“Families like the Abrahams, Boses, and Gormans deserve leaders who will stand with victims of illegal immigrants, not ignore them while glorifying and inciting open border activists who stalk and block federal law enforcement officers.”

Joe Abraham exposed what Illinois families already know:

If a tragedy fits their narrative, politicians like Juliana Stratton respond immediately.

If it doesn’t, they stay silent.

Katie Abraham. Megan Bos. Sheridan Gorman.

Illinois deserves leadership that stands with…

— Don Tracy (@DonTracyForIL) March 26, 2026

Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt chairs the committee where Joe Abraham made his testimony. Schmitt said the hearing was in the works before Gorman’s death, but he expects more tragedies if policies don’t change in Illinois.

“It means sanctuary jurisdictions are just not going to tell ICE when criminals, including rapists and murderers, are being released from jail in prison,” Schmitt told FOX News. “That’s insane.”

Schmitt read a statement from Gorman’s family on the Senate floor Tuesday to highlight the total preventable tragedy. Gorman’s suspected killer is Venezuelan national Jose Medina-Medina.

“When you send your daughter off to college, it’s just not what you expect, and it’s totally preventable,” Schmitt said.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s policies remain a focal point of scrutiny. Abraham wrote a letter to the governor seeking answers about the sanctuary policies Pritzker so publicly champions. Abraham asked for a response by the one-year anniversary of his daughter’s death in January, but he told FOX News he has received nothing.

Joe Abraham, Angel Father of Katie Abraham, SLAMS Illinois Democrats:

"She was not a statistic…she was someone worth more than being ignored and made invisible, especially in my state…she was my daughter. She should be finishing school right now." pic.twitter.com/2NuNxlCMHk

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 25, 2026