Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., criticized members of his own party following a deadly shooting in Chicago and pushed back on calls from Pennsylvania officials targeting federal immigration enforcement, as reported by Fox News.

The comments came after authorities charged Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, in connection with the killing of a Loyola University student.

Medina-Medina had previously been arrested on unrelated charges months earlier but was released before the fatal incident.

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"How many Democrats are talking about that case? I think probably none," Fetterman said, pointing to what he described as a lack of attention from fellow Democrats to violent crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally with prior criminal records.

Fetterman also addressed remarks made by Larry Krasner, who had threatened to arrest Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in response to enforcement actions.

Krasner’s comments came less than a week after the Chicago shooting involving Medina-Medina.

"Lighten up, Francis," Fetterman said, referencing a line from the 1981 movie Stripes. "[Krasner] is constantly — he says a lot of tough things but, you know, like, you gotta lighten up, Francis.’"

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Fetterman’s remarks follow a series of incidents involving individuals in the country illegally who were released after prior arrests and later accused of committing violent crimes.

The senator said the pattern is one that should be addressed directly.

"If you’re here in the country illegally already, and you’re breaking the law, like — ya gotta go," Fetterman said.

Recent cases have drawn increased scrutiny from federal officials and lawmakers. In Chicago, Sheridan Gorman was killed in an incident involving Medina-Medina.

In Virginia, Stephanie Minter was stabbed to death at a bus stop by Abdul Jalloh, a Sierra Leone native who had reportedly been released multiple times before the attack.

The Department of Homeland Security criticized what it described as lenient treatment of both suspects prior to the incidents.

"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," a DHS spokesperson said regarding Gorman’s death.

"We are calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods."

The agency also addressed the Virginia case involving Jalloh.

"We are calling on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia's sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer and violent career criminal from their jail without notifying ICE," DHS said.

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Fetterman referenced prior legislative efforts he supported in response to repeat offenses, including the Laken Riley Act, which Congress passed at the beginning of 2025.

The law requires detention for certain crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally, including burglary, theft, larceny, and shoplifting, and allows state attorneys general to take legal action if enforcement requirements are not met.

"From what I read, the individual that was accused of killing [Gorman]. He was arrested for shoplifting. That’s why I was the Democratic lead on Laken Riley," Fetterman said.

The senator said the recent cases highlight the importance of federal immigration enforcement agencies.

"It should remind everybody how important ICE is for our security," Fetterman said.

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