Father of Drunk-Driving Victim Appointed to Lead ICE Office Supporting Crime Victims

Joe Abraham, whose 20-year-old daughter Katie was killed in a January 2025 drunk-driving hit-and-run, has been named executive director of ICE’s Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement office. The position places Abraham at the helm of the federal agency’s efforts to support families affected by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Abraham’s appointment marks a significant step in the Trump administration’s focus on immigration enforcement and victim advocacy.

Katie Abraham and her friend Chloe Polzin died in a crash caused by Guatemalan national Julio Cucul-Bol, who was driving under the influence. Cucul-Bol pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and leaving the scene of a fatal crash, receiving a 30-year prison sentence. The tragedy transformed Abraham into a prominent activist and public face for families impacted by crimes involving undocumented immigrants.

Abraham’s advocacy work inspired Operation Midway Blitz, a major immigration enforcement initiative conducted in the Chicago area from September through December 2025 that resulted in more than 4,000 arrests. The operation drew significant protests from Democratic opponents but was credited with intensifying federal immigration enforcement efforts across the region. Abraham has become a leading voice calling for stricter border controls and deportation policies.

The VOICE office, which Trump reestablished in April 2025 after it was shuttered during the Biden administration, has already demonstrated substantial impact. As of June, the office received 897 calls from victims and family members while providing assistance to 588 victims and 185 family members seeking services. The most commonly reported crimes include assault at 35 percent, sexual assault and rape at 17 percent, and homicide and manslaughter at 10 percent.