The Department of Homeland Security revealed that the man charged with killing a Loyola University Chicago student is an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela who was previously released into the United States.

Jose Medina-Medina, 25, faces first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault with discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charges in connection with the March 19 shooting death of 18-year-old freshman Sheridan Gorman. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. near Tobey Prinz Beach Park in Rogers Park, less than a mile from Loyola's Lake Shore Campus, where Gorman was walking with friends. Authorities said Medina-Medina, wearing a mask and armed with a gun, approached the group, and Gorman was shot as she tried to flee. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chicago police arrested Medina-Medina the following day using facial recognition software that matched surveillance footage to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records. DHS announced on March 22 that Medina-Medina is a "criminal illegal alien" who was apprehended at the border on May 9, 2023, and released into the country. He was arrested again in Chicago for shoplifting on June 19, 2023, and released despite an active warrant for failing to appear in court.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer on Medina-Medina and urged Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago officials not to release him, citing the city's sanctuary policies. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, "Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life. She was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who RELEASED this illegal alien TWICE before he went on to commit this heinous murder."

Medina-Medina was hospitalized at Illinois Masonic Medical Center for tuberculosis treatment, postponing his detention hearing from Monday to Friday, March 27. Gorman's family expressed grief and criticized policies that allowed the suspect to remain free, saying, "We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime."

President Donald Trump called the killing "devastating" and blamed former President Joe Biden's "open door policy," vowing continued deportations. Gov. Pritzker offered condolences but accused the Trump administration of politicizing the tragedy and called for federal funds to support public safety. Chicago Ald. Ray Lopez advocated amending sanctuary laws to deny protections to criminal non-citizens.

The case has reignited debates over immigration enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions like Chicago and Illinois, where state law limits cooperation with federal detainers.