Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich stated on Saturday that Democrats have positioned themselves as the party of “open borders” and opposition to law enforcement, citing the March 19 killing of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman in Chicago.
Blagojevich argued that Illinois state and city leaders under Democratic governance created conditions leading to the crime. During his remarks, he said: “The Democratic Party today is all about open borders and supporting criminal illegal immigrants and opposing law enforcement.”
He specifically accused Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson of working at cross purposes with immigration authorities and suggested they bear responsibility for Gorman’s death due to their obstruction of law enforcement. Blagojevich claimed: “You can honestly say that Pritzker and Johnson have blood on their hands when it comes to the killing of Sheridan Gorman, because of their opposition and obstruction of law enforcement here in Illinois.”
The incident occurred when Jose Medina, a 25-year-old man, was charged with first-degree murder and other firearm offenses for shooting Gorman near Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park. Prosecutors reported Gorman was shot in the back while with friends at the location. A judge ordered Medina held pending trial on March 27.
Blagojevich asserted that the killing was a gang initiation carried out by a member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, though authorities have not publicly identified a gang motive. He stated Democratic officials are attempting to cover up this angle because it contradicts their narrative that criminals do not enter the United States.
He also highlighted Chicago alderwoman Maria Hadden’s initial description of the shooting as a “wrong place at wrong time” incident, noting Hadden later apologized for her remarks after facing backlash. Blagojevich added: “Their argument is that criminals aren’t coming to America, and it’s so obviously not the case. And they have been so active in preventing law enforcement from finding these criminals — they have, frankly, the responsibility for this killing.”
The case has become part of a wider political debate over immigration policy. Federal records indicate Medina, an undocumented Venezuelan national who entered the United States in 2023, was arrested on a retail theft charge and failed to appear in court, leading to a warrant.
