Four years ago, Gianno Caldwell received the devastating news that his teenage brother Christian had been shot and killed on the streets of Chicago. This personal tragedy has fueled Caldwell’s activism against violence in the city, which he describes as a consequence of "soft-on-crime policies" that have affected families nationwide.

A march against Chicago violence began at Morgan Park High School, where Angel Families—groups representing families of Americans killed by illegal immigrants—called for accountability from city and state leaders, including Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker.

Recently, Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal addressed Angel Families, noting that "this hearing is the fourth time in this committee that we've had a hearing on sanctuary cities," suggesting other priorities exist. In response, Jessica Gorman, whose 18-year-old daughter Sheridan was fatally shot at the Chicago lakefront while walking with friends to see the Northern Lights, expressed her frustration: "Thanks for telling me without telling me that you're here, but you don't want to be, for telling me you don't care." Sheridan was a freshman from Westchester County, New York.

The discussion also highlighted concerns about immigration enforcement. Border Patrol officials reported that in May 2023, a suspect was released into the country under the Biden administration despite being flagged as likely to abscond and lacking verifiable contact information.

Additionally, a reporter's notebook noted a Chicago police officer was killed after a suspect was released under the SAFE-T Act, underscoring ongoing debates about public safety and criminal justice reforms in the city.

Caldwell and others emphasize that the families suffering the consequences are not the politicians responsible for policy decisions, framing Chicago as an example of political failure with widespread impact.

Sources