The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office is pushing back against claims that it issued a driver’s license to a Guatemalan immigrant who was later convicted in a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed two young women in Urbana.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said allegations that his office provided an Illinois driver’s license to Julio Cucul-Bol are false and politically motivated.
Bol Sentenced to 30 Years for Deadly Urbana Crash
Julio Cucul-Bol was sentenced to 30 years in prison in October 2025 for his role in a fatal crash that happened on January 19, 2025, in Urbana.
The crash killed two college-aged women:
- 21-year-old Chloe Polzin of Deerfield
- 20-year-old Katie Abraham of Glenview
Authorities said Bol was responsible for the hit-and-run collision that resulted in their deaths. He later pleaded guilty in connection with the case and received his prison sentence.
Political Claims Spark Response From Secretary of State
The controversy began after several Republican officials and political figures claimed on social media that Bol had received an Illinois driver’s license from the Secretary of State’s Office.
Those making the claims included:
- Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Illinois)
- Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)
- Jeanne Ives, a former Illinois state representative
The allegations quickly gained attention online, leading Giannoulias to issue a public response.
Giannoulias Calls Allegations “Bold Faced Lies”
In a video posted on July 14, 2026, Giannoulias directly denied the claims and said Bol had never been issued an Illinois driver’s license.
“These are bold faced lies. This individual was never issued an Illinois driver’s license. Period,” Giannoulias said.
He accused critics of using the tragedy involving the victims’ families to push what he described as a false political narrative.
Giannoulias said:
“Using a family’s tragedy to manufacture a false political narrative is deceitful, reprehensible and does nothing to promote public safety.”
He added that spreading inaccurate information takes attention away from accountability and unfairly targets immigrant communities.
Secretary of State Says Immigrant Communities Should Not Be Blamed
Giannoulias said officials can address criminal behavior without blaming entire groups of people.
“We can hold bad actors accountable without using our immigrant communities as a scapegoat,” he said.
He argued that misinformation surrounding the case could increase division and distract from efforts to improve public safety.
Family and Lawmakers Previously Called for Immigration Changes
The issue has also sparked debate among lawmakers and the victims’ families.
In May 2026, Joe Abraham, the father of Katie Abraham, and Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) urged the General Assembly to pass Senate Bill 4196.
The proposed legislation would have allowed law enforcement agencies to work more closely with federal immigration officials.
However, legislative records show that the bill did not advance out of committee.
Federal Charges Still Pending Against Bol
While Bol’s state criminal case has been resolved, he continues to face separate federal charges.
Court records show he is accused of offenses including:
- Making false statements on a bank application
- Possessing a false green card
- Possessing a false Social Security card
- False use of a passport
A federal status conference in that case is scheduled for August 10.
Debate Continues Over Case and Immigration Policy
The case continues to fuel political debate over immigration enforcement, public safety and state licensing policies.
However, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office maintains that Bol was never issued an Illinois driver’s license, directly disputing the claims made by several political figures.
