Family of slain Yorktown teen blames New York sanctuary law for missed ICE alert
Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Yorktown graduate, was killed by a man who had been released after a prior ICE detention, and her family says a quick ICE call could have prevented the tragedy.
On March 19, Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Yorktown High School alumna and freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was fatally shot while out with friends. The accused perpetrator had previously been detained at the U.S. border, released, subsequently arrested in Chicago, released again, and then missed a court appearance. Jessica Gorman, Sheridan’s mother, contends that a ten-second notification from local police to ICE could have averted the killing.
Rather than revisiting the policy, Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Democratic majority passed the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from assisting ICE and withholds state funding from agencies that do. The law follows data showing New York has declined a large share of ICE detainers, including many involving individuals with multiple criminal charges. Recent incidents in Nassau County and Minneapolis are cited as examples of potential consequences when local-federal cooperation is limited.
Why it matters
The story highlights how state sanctuary policies may affect public safety and law-enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
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