# Blakeman Asked Hochul to Apologize to Families of Crime Victims. She Turned to ICE Shootings Instead.

In the one scheduled New York governor's debate, the Republican challenger named the Gorman family and asked whether she would return their calls. Fox says she did not answer directly.

- Section: [Border & Security](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/border-security/)
- Published: 2026-10-19
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/hochul-pressed-to-apologize-sanctuary-policies-sheridan-gorman/

One exchange from last week's New York governor's debate is still driving the immigration argument in that race.

At the Oct. 13 debate, the only one scheduled before the November election, Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, looked at Gov. Kathy Hochul and asked what she would say to families of people killed by illegal immigrants. "Will you apologize to them," he said, "and will you please return Sheridan Gorman's parents' calls to talk to you about your sanctuary policy?"

Fox News reports that Hochul did not directly answer either question. Gorman was an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student from Yorktown, New York. Fox says Jose Medina-Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, faces charges related to her fatal shooting as she walked with friends near campus late at night. Her parents have blamed sanctuary policies that limit local police cooperation with ICE.

Hochul's answer, as Fox describes it, had three parts. She called all crimes "heartbreaking" and said, "I abhor all crimes, regardless of the perpetrator." She said her administration has spent billions to help law enforcement and that violent crime is at "historic lows." Then she turned to federal agents, naming Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who Fox says were shot and killed in separate confrontations with federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January. Hochul said Blakeman had called one killing justified. She said she found that "reprehensible" and added, "I apologize for any pain that has happened to anyone."

Fox says the exchange drew heavy criticism online. RNC Research wrote that Hochul "can't even apologize to victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens." RNC spokesperson Kristen Cianci called it "Disgusting."

What we have not seen: Hochul's campaign explaining further, or the Gorman family responding to her debate answer. Fox's report does not include either. The crime-rate claim is Hochul's own, and we have not checked it.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hochul-dodges-pressed-over-victims-illegal-immigrant-crime-will-you-apologize)