The request from the Department of Homeland Security arrived with a weight I hadn’t anticipated. They wanted to honor my daughter, Katie, through an operation called “Midway Blitz.” My first instinct was to refuse; I couldn’t entrust her memory to something I hadn’t fully vetted.
But after speaking with DHS, understanding their intent – to enforce laws meant to protect families like mine and to amplify Katie’s story – I began to see a purpose. Perhaps her death wouldn’t be meaningless. Perhaps it could prevent another family from enduring the same unimaginable pain.
January 19th, 2025. The date is seared into my memory. Katie was a passenger in a car, stopped at a red light, when a speeding vehicle slammed into them with brutal force. The driver, Julio Cucul-Bol, was in the country illegally, using false identification, and driving with a reckless disregard for human life.
He didn’t just cause a collision; he unleashed a wave of devastation. But the horror didn’t end there. He fled the scene, abandoning the injured and dying without a single act of compassion or responsibility. His cowardice was as shocking as his initial act of violence.
The simple truth is agonizing: if he hadn’t been in our country, defying federal law, Katie would be alive today. If Illinois had prioritized public safety over political ideology, if sanctuary policies hadn’t shielded him, my daughter might still be here.
I’ve repeatedly argued that prevention is infinitely more effective than trying to repair the wreckage of tragedy. An ounce of prevention truly does outweigh a pound of cure. Yet, my pleas to Illinois politicians for a plan to balance safety with their open-border policies have been met with silence.
What oversight was in place when Illinois effectively opened its doors to anyone? Who was tracking arrivals, ensuring community safety, and providing support? Instead of compassion, our leaders incentivized illegal immigration, sending a message that there were no consequences for entering the country unlawfully.
That isn’t compassion; it’s a profound cruelty. It disregards the safety of citizens and ignores the exploitation faced by those making the dangerous journey. After Katie’s death, I met with numerous DHS and ICE agents in Chicago, including Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.
I was struck by their dedication, professionalism, and genuine compassion. These are not the villains portrayed by some. They are Americans striving to restore order and balance after years of neglect. Each agent I encountered was competent, committed, and deeply concerned for our communities.
I wonder if any of their critics have ever bothered to speak with them, to see the tireless work they do. Their silence isn’t born of grief or guilt, but of political self-preservation. Maintaining census numbers and congressional seats seems to matter more than protecting innocent lives.
Katie’s life was stolen by this cynical game. And with her, we lost a future filled with possibilities – a wedding, a family, grandchildren I will never know. These are the devastating consequences of failed leadership, a void that can never be filled.
That’s why I support “Operation Midway Blitz.” It’s time to demand accountability from our immigration system. It’s time to prioritize the safety of Americans over political maneuvering. And it’s time to honor Katie, not just with words, but with meaningful action.
