Sangamon Sun

Mary Miller, U.S. Representative of Illinois, attributed the death of a young woman in Central Illinois to Governor J.B. Pritzker's immigration policies. She expressed her concerns on the social media platform X, highlighting the impact on local families.

"Joe Abraham's daughter, Katie, was killed by an illegal alien in Central Illinois," said Mary E. Miller, U.S. Representative from Illinois. "This tragic death is a direct consequence of Pritzker's policies. He created this crisis, and families like the Abrahams are paying the price. Yesterday, I shared Joe's heartbreaking story."

Illinois' sanctuary policies have been under scrutiny following several immigration-related incidents. According to Axios, these policies prompted Governor JB Pritzker to defend the state's approach during congressional testimony in June 2025. Critics, including federal officials, argue that such laws compromise public safety.

The Telegraph reported that in May 2025, Illinois State Police and federal officials charged nine undocumented immigrants with federal offenses in Madison County, including illegal reentry and weapons possession. However, there is no evidence indicating widespread criminal activity among the undocumented population.

Research summarized by Wikipedia and supported by AP News indicates that sanctuary policies across the U.S., including those in Illinois, do not lead to higher crime rates. In many cases, violent crime remains stable or decreases in sanctuary jurisdictions compared to non-sanctuary areas.

Miller is a Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 15th District and has served since 2021. Her background includes farming and teaching, and she is a member of House committees on Agriculture, Education, and Administration according to her official biography.