AURORA, Ill. - TelAve -- Republican Candidate for Illinois House District 83, Jesse Rodriguez, a Loyola University, Chicago alumna and father of a recent Loyola graduate commented on the murder of Loyola student Sheridan Gorman, this past Thursday morning. Rodriguez stated, "As a father of recent Loyola graduate, I know the safety concerns of having your daughter living in the Rodgers Park neighbor. While the Loyola Campus is secure and a beautiful oasis within the City of Chicago, I regularly reminded my daughter that it was important to keep safe by knowing your surroundings and noting other individuals around you. Tragically, Sheridan was murdered while enjoying the northern lights near the Loyola campus with her friends. Sheridan was in an area where she should have felt safe, among friends near campus. According to media reports, Sheridan clearly enjoyed her Loyola experience having attended Loyola basketball games and enjoying the lakefront campus. Her murder is a tragedy for her family, Loyola, Chicago, and Illinois because it should never have happened."

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Sheridan's alleged murder is a Venezuelan migrant who lived in a nearby migrant shelter; the murder suspect, a Jose Medina had been previously arrested for retail theft and released on bond. Unfortunately, due to Illinois's refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, federal authorities were not notified of his retail theft arrest, and Medina was allowed to remain in the United States. In fact, Medina failed to show up for his scheduled court appearance and a warrant had been issued for his arrest, which was still outstanding at the time of Ms. Gorman's murder.

"Ms. Gorman was engaged in normal, campus life activity with her friends at the time of her murder. But for the Illinois' policy of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities per the SAFE-T Act, the alleged gunman should have been deported back to Venezuela and Sheridan Gorman would be alive today and returning home to her family this summer.," Rodriguez stated.

In January, Governor Pritzker stated that he was open to "tweaking" the SAFE-T Act in response to criticism that the act was putting Illinoisans in harm's way.

Though the Illinois House and Senate have been in session since January, no revisions to the SAFE-T Act have been proposed. At minimum, federal authorities should be notified of migrants that have been arrested for crimes while in custody here in Illinois. It is only common sense.

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In fact, Illinois Democrats are doubling down on pro-criminal legislation, with Illinois House District 14 State Representative, Kelly Cassidy's introduction of HB-5521, which would ban the use of facial recognition technology in criminal investigations; the very technology that police used to locate and arrest Sheridan's alleged murderer. State Representative Cassidy's 14^th District includes Loyola's Rodgers Park campus. "What's next, bans on DNA and fingerprints?" Rodriguez asked.

The tragic death of Sheridan Gorman should be a stark reminder to Governor Pritzker that the SAFE-T Act "tweaks" need to happen before another avoidable tragedy occurs. Whatever changes to the SAFE-T Act that occur now, they are too late for Sheridan and her family. Instead of finishing her freshman year at Loyola and returning home to New York and family this summer with stories of her incredible freshmen year, she is going home before the end of winter, to a grieving family, in a casket.

Jesse Rodriguez is the Republican candidate for Illinois House District 83, a Loyola University, Chicago graduate, small business owner, and navy veteran.
http://jesserodriguez4il83.com