Democratic Governors Defend Sanctuary Policies at GOP Immigration Hearing

Democratic governors from Illinois, Minnesota, and New York defended their states' sanctuary policies during a heated congressional hearing led by House Republicans, who accused these policies of protecting undocumented criminals. Governors JB Pritzker, Tim Walz, and Kathy Hochul emphasized that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and highlighted their cooperation with ICE only in criminal cases, warning against federal overreach. Republican lawmakers, supported by President Donald Trump, intensified scrutiny by displaying posters of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes and linking sanctuary policies to increased crime, while also spotlighting Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles amid anti-deportation protests. Democrats countered by condemning what they described as an abuse of power and constitutional violations by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The hearing exemplifies the broader partisan clash over immigration enforcement, with Republicans seeking to leverage public anxiety over immigration and crime for political gain as Trump continues his aggressive immigration policies. Overall, the governors pushed back against GOP accusations, stressing due process and the rule of law amid escalating tensions over immigration enforcement.