Democratic Governors Testify Before House GOP Panel on Immigration Policies

Three Democratic governors—Tim Walz of Minnesota, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Kathy Hochul of New York—testified before the House Oversight Committee amid heightened tensions over President Donald Trump's intensified immigration enforcement and recent riots in Los Angeles. Republicans criticized these governors for allegedly obstructing immigration law enforcement and called for defunding sanctuary jurisdictions, while the governors defended their policies, emphasizing cooperation with federal authorities in deporting criminals but resisting deputizing state officers to enforce civil immigration laws. The governors expressed concerns about public safety and due process, with Hochul noting New York's transfer of over 1,300 convicts to ICE but drawing a line at enforcing civil violations like visa overstays. Trump has escalated the conflict by deploying National Guard and Marines to California and signing an executive order to list sanctuary jurisdictions and potentially cut their federal funding, prompting criticism from the Democratic governors and their allies. The hearing unfolded against a backdrop of nationwide protests and partisan divisions over immigration enforcement, with Democrats condemning what they see as abuses of presidential power and Republicans emphasizing law and order. This clash highlights ongoing national debates over sanctuary policies, immigration enforcement tactics, and federal-state relations under President Trump's administration.