Joe Abraham, whose daughter Katie was killed by an undocumented immigrant in Illinois in early 2025, has taken over as the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. His new role aims to guide other families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
"My life as I know it is not there anymore," Abraham said on his first day leading the VOICE office, reflecting on the tragedy that reshaped his life. Katie Abraham was killed by Julio Cucul-Bol, a Guatemalan national using a false identity, who was driving drunk and fled the scene. Cucul-Bol was apprehended in Texas and later sentenced to 30 years in prison for aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
Abraham described his motivation as finding a new purpose and ensuring his daughter's name would mean something. "I want her to be proud. I want her name to mean something," he said.
Katie Abraham's story was a catalyst for Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement action that led to the arrest of over 4,000 undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area. Abraham stated he had not found adequate support from state officials in Illinois following his daughter's death.
He recalled an invitation to a congressional oversight hearing in June 2025, where his daughter's case was highlighted. He noted that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and other Democratic officials present did not acknowledge him. However, he found support from then-President Donald Trump, who invited him and other affected families to the White House. Abraham described Trump as "genuine" and "empathetic."
This engagement with the Trump administration led to Abraham partnering with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on communications work, sharing his story. He plans to continue this mission at the VOICE office, focusing on raising awareness and ensuring victims feel heard and respected.
The VOICE office, reestablished by the Trump administration in April 2025 after being previously closed, assists victims in navigating immigration law, provides information on cases, and connects families with resources such as grief counseling. The office also serves as a reporting channel for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
According to a report from June, VOICE has received 897 calls and assisted 588 victims. Additionally, it has aided 185 victim family members seeking services. The most frequently reported crimes are assault (35%), rape and sexual assault (17%), and homicide and manslaughter (10%).
Abraham emphasized the importance of having a centralized resource for victims. "You're still in a fog, right? You're sometimes not thinking straight. You're not getting everything," he said. "It would have really been helpful instead of me trying to have like six different places to go, then I can just go to one place and they will help me."