Gorman parents endorse Mike Lawler in NY congressional race

The parents of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University student killed by an undocumented Venezuelan migrant, have endorsed Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler in a new television advertisement. The ad targets Democratic challenger Cait Conley, criticizing her support for sanctuary policies.

Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot on March 19 near Lake Michigan. Prosecutors identified the suspect, Jose Medina, as an undocumented migrant who had prior encounters with law enforcement but was released before the incident.

During a recent televised debate, the Gormans questioned both candidates regarding federal legislation to overturn state sanctuary laws, such as those approved by New York Governor Kathy Hochul. These laws prevent local police from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with detaining undocumented individuals. While Conley called the death ‘inexcusable,’ she did not explicitly state whether she would support repealing the sanctuary laws, and her campaign website indicates she favors ending agreements that allow local law enforcement to assist ICE.