Joe Abraham, a father who lost his daughter in a fatal crash caused by an undocumented immigrant, has been appointed Executive Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office.
Abraham's daughter, 20-year-old Katie Abraham, and her friend Chloe Polzin were killed in January 2025 in the Chicago area by an undocumented Guatemalan national, Julio Cucul-Bol. Cucul-Bol pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Since his daughter's death, Abraham has become an advocate for stricter immigration enforcement. He is credited as an inspiration for Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement operation in the Chicago area from September to December 2025. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the operation led to more than 4,000 arrests.
Abraham stated that his new role at VOICE is deeply personal and rooted in his mission to support others who have experienced similar tragedies. The VOICE office, which was reestablished by the Trump administration in April 2025, aims to support victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis praised Abraham's appointment, calling him the "perfect choice" to lead the VOICE office and highlighting his advocacy for victims of crimes attributed to undocumented immigrants and his criticism of sanctuary policies. She added that in his new role, he will assist families who have lost loved ones due to what she described as preventable tragedies caused by open-border policies.
According to a June report, the VOICE office has received 897 calls from victims and advocates and has assisted 588 victims seeking aid and information. It has also helped 185 victim family members. The most frequently reported crimes that victims have experienced include assault (35%), rape and sexual assault (17%), and homicide and manslaughter (10%).
The Trump administration has had public disputes with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker regarding the state's sanctuary policies and its cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In May, the administration criticized Pritzker after an undocumented immigrant convicted of child sexual abuse was released from jail despite ICE's requests for state officials to transfer him to federal custody.