House Oversight Committee to Grill Democratic Governors on Sanctuary Policies

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has scheduled a high-profile hearing for June 12, summoning Democratic Governors Kathy Hochul (New York), JB Pritzker (Illinois), and Tim Walz (Minnesota) to testify on their states' sanctuary city policies. Committee Chair James Comer has criticized these states for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement and prioritizing the protection of criminal illegal immigrants over citizen safety, especially amid ongoing concerns about border security. The hearing follows recent executive actions by the Trump administration aimed at cracking down on sanctuary jurisdictions and withholding federal funds from non-compliant states and cities. While Republican leaders argue these policies have fueled the border crisis, Governor Pritzker's office has defended Illinois' approach, noting their TRUST Act is compliant with federal law and prioritizes public safety for all residents. This session is expected to be contentious, with both sides likely to defend their stances amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement and state-federal relations. The event comes after a similar March hearing featuring mayors from major sanctuary cities.