Joe Abraham, father of 20-year-old Katie, says sanctuary policies and lax immigration enforcement contributed to his daughter’s death after a January 2025 hit-and-run in Urbana, Illinois. The driver, Julio Cucul-Bol, pleaded guilty and is serving a 30-year sentence; federal prosecutors have also filed identity-fraud charges. A second victim, 21-year-old Chloe Polzin, died the day after the crash. Abraham cited court documents when raising concerns about screening and called for stronger cooperation between state and federal authorities.
Grieving Illinois Father Blames Sanctuary Policies After Daughter Killed In Hit-And-Run, Calls For 'Common Sense'
DHS launched "Operation Midway Blitz" in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk-driving, hit-and-run car crash caused by a criminal illegal alien in sanctuary Illinois.(Fox News)
Joe Abraham, a grieving father from Urbana, Illinois, publicly condemned what he described as sanctuary city "chaos" after his 20-year-old daughter, Katie, was killed in a January 2025 hit-and-run. Speaking to Fox & Friends First, Abraham accused state and local leaders of undermining federal immigration law and failing to implement safeguards that, in his view, may have contributed to the tragedy.
The crash and legal fallout
Katie Abraham died after a suspected drunk driver struck the vehicle she was riding in with friends. A second passenger, 21-year-old Chloe Polzin of Deerfield, Illinois, later died from injuries sustained in the same crash. The driver, identified as Julio Cucul-Bol, was described by Abraham as a Guatemalan national using a Mexican alias. Cucul-Bol accepted a plea deal with the Champaign County State’s Attorney and is serving a 30-year prison sentence.
The Department of Justice has filed additional charges against Cucul-Bol related to identity documents and bank paperwork, including allegedly possessing a false Social Security card and a false permanent resident card, making a false statement on a bank application, and false use of a passport.
Abraham's concerns and claims
President Donald Trump holds up a photo of Katie Abraham during an event in the East Room of the White House on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
Abraham told reporters he had reviewed court transcripts and documents and cited them when alleging problems with Cucul-Bol's entry into the United States. He referred to records indicating the driver had HIV and argued that background and health screenings were inadequate. Abraham argued these issues underscore a need for greater cooperation between state and federal authorities and called for what he termed "common sense" reforms and guardrails.
"There’s no consideration for families like ours — just an innocent young girl killed in the streets of Urbana," Abraham said. "When you nullify federal immigration law and then don’t put in any process or guardrails, any common sense—basically what you’ve done is created your own immigration policy."
National context
The crash and Abraham's comments came as immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies are a focus of national debate. The incident prompted the Trump administration to launch a federal operation dubbed "Operation Midway Blitz" in Katie's memory. The story has unfolded alongside protests and tensions in other cities, including demonstrations in Minnesota following the recent death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
Reporting note
Abraham's remarks and factual claims are drawn from his interview with Fox & Friends First and court records referenced by him. Additional reporting contributions were noted from Fox News' Emma Bussey.
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