Three Democratic governors are scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee next month regarding their states’ immigration policies. Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Tim Walz of Minnesota will appear on June 12 to address concerns about how their policies affect federal immigration enforcement.
The committee’s inquiry comes as the Trump administration has ramped up its immigration enforcement efforts, including promises of mass deportations. In response, many Democratic leaders have indicated they will not cooperate with federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security.
House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, criticized the governors for their sanctuary policies. He claimed these policies protect "criminal illegal aliens" and suggested they compromise public safety. Comer pointed out that these governors need to explain why they prioritize these policies over the safety of U.S. citizens.
Illinois has been a sanctuary state since 2017, when former Governor Bruce Rauner signed the Illinois Trust Act. This law prevents local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration actions. New York has similar policies, where state agencies are prohibited from collaborating with ICE, and a court ruling reinforced that local law enforcement cannot detain illegal immigrants at ICE’s request.
In Minnesota, efforts to establish sanctuary state legislation have failed in recent years, despite support from Governor Walz and the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Walz has publicly stated that local law enforcement should focus on state and local laws rather than federal immigration laws.
According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, there are currently eleven sanctuary states in the U.S. This includes California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, along with the District of Columbia.
This upcoming hearing follows a similar session in April, where the committee questioned mayors from various sanctuary cities, including Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York. The ongoing discussions highlight the growing tensions between state policies and federal immigration enforcement efforts.