Sanctuary Backfires—ICE STEPS In!

Is Illinois’s SAFE-T Act opening more doors for criminal activity while closing them on justice?

At a Glance

• A 52-year-old non-citizen, Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, was released from custody despite being charged with concealing a woman’s corpse.
• His release was mandated by Illinois’s controversial SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail for many offenses.
• After the victim’s mother spoke directly with President Trump, ICE agents re-arrested Mendoza-Gonzalez, reigniting the debate over sanctuary state policies.
• The case has amplified calls from lawmakers and the public to repeal or reform the SAFE-T Act.

A Monster Walks Free, Thanks to “Bail Reform.”

In a case that exposes the horrifying consequences of Illinois’s “progressive” justice reform, Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a 52-year-old Mexican national, was charged in connection with the death of 37-year-old Megan Bos. Her body was discovered in a bleach-filled storage container on his property in Waukegan. Mendoza-Gonzalez admitted that Bos had died from an apparent drug overdose in his home weeks earlier and that he chose to conceal her body.

ICE arrested Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who was charged with concealing the body of 37-year-old victim Megan Bos in a storage container for months and abusing her corpse.

A sanctuary city judge freed this monster and allowed him to walk free on… pic.twitter.com/wOWgGMuP4d

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 20, 2025

Despite the gruesome nature of the charges—concealing a corpse, abusing a corpse, and obstruction of justice—a Lake County judge was forced to release Mendoza-Gonzalez from custody. The reason? The state’s controversial SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail for these offenses.

When “Bail Reform” Fails Victims

The SAFE-T Act, championed by Illinois’s Democratic leadership, has proven to be a danger to public safety. Mendoza-Gonzalez’s release sparked immediate and fierce outrage from the victim’s family and local officials. “Someone that hid their body in a garbage can for 51 days… Is this a non-detainable offense?” said Republican State Representative Tom Weber at the time.

For months, Mendoza-Gonzalez was allowed to walk free. The state’s justice system had failed Megan Bos and her family.

Federal Intervention Restores a Glimmer of Hope

The case took a dramatic turn after Megan’s mother, Jennifer Bos, had a chance encounter with President Donald Trump. After hearing her story, Trump reportedly told her, “Watch what happens.” Three days later, on July 19, ICE agents tracked down and arrested Mendoza-Gonzalez in Chicago.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a blistering statement, saying, “It is absolutely repulsive that a judge freed this monster and allowed him to walk free on Illinois’s streets.” The federal intervention underscores the dangerous clash between state-level sanctuary policies and the federal government’s duty to enforce the law. For the Bos family, it is the first sign that justice may finally be served.