Illinois Governor Pritzker Defends Sanctuary Laws in Congressional Hearing

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker testified before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee alongside fellow Democratic governors Tim Walz and Kathy Hochul, defending Illinois' sanctuary policies amid Republican criticism. Pritzker emphasized the state's humanitarian approach to immigration, highlighting support for immigrants, including children and families bused from border states, and underscored that violent criminals, undocumented or not, have no place in Illinois. Republicans, led by committee Chair James Comer, accused the governors of obstructing federal immigration enforcement and cited specific criminal cases involving undocumented immigrants, such as the fatal car crash involving Katie Abraham. Pritzker rebutted claims that Illinois shields criminals, citing the bipartisan Illinois Trust Act, and affirmed his commitment to protecting all residents while respecting the rule of law. The hearing reflected deep partisan divides on immigration policy, with Republicans accusing sanctuary states of prioritizing illegal immigrants over citizens' safety and Democrats emphasizing compassion and the state's legal compliance. The testimony occurred amid ongoing protests against immigration crackdowns and heightened scrutiny of sanctuary policies nationwide.