Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs | https://www.dhs.gov/
In January 2025, Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old from Illinois, and her friend Chloe Polzin died in a hit-and-run crash in Urbana. Authorities say the driver, Julio Cucul-Bol, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, and reckless homicide. The Department of Justice also filed charges against Cucul-Bol for possession of false identification documents and making false statements on a bank application.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a video to honor Abraham’s life and share her story. This release coincided with Secretary Noem’s visit to Chicago to highlight recent arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) involving individuals described as serious offenders in sanctuary cities.
“These two young women—college students with their entire lives ahead of them—were killed by an illegal alien who should have NEVER been in our country. This tragedy was senseless and completely preventable,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Sanctuary policies and politicians like JB Pritzker who protect illegal aliens are endangering American lives. ICE will continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens and put the safety of Americans first. President Trump and Secretary Noem stand with the victims of illegal alien crime while Governor Pritzker stands with criminal illegal aliens.”
The DHS listed several other fatal crashes across the United States where drivers identified as undocumented immigrants were involved. Victims ranged from children to adults, including police officers, with incidents reported in Texas, California, Louisiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, and Illinois between 2016 and 2025.
DHS stated that its law enforcement efforts aim to prevent similar tragedies nationwide. The agency also noted that support is available for victims through its Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (VOICE).
