Gov. Pritzker defends Illinois' sanctuary policies in heated Congressional hearing
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker testifies during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday,. Photo: Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Gov. JB Pritzker joined other Democratic governors Thursday in a tense hearing over immigration policies in front of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Why it matters: Illinois' sanctuary state policies are in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, which has threatened to withhold federal funding for the state and the city of Chicago.
The big picture: The spotlight on immigration is intensifying as protests continue across U.S. cities, including what could be Chicago's largest single-day anti-Trump demonstration this weekend.
What they're saying: " Illinois follows the law, but let me be clear, we expect the federal government to follow the law, too," Pritzker said in his opening remarks.
- "We will not participate in abuses of power. We will not violate court orders. We will not ignore the Constitution."
Context: Pritzker sat on a panel with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. The hearing was scheduled last month, before widespread protests erupted across U.S. cities, including Chicago.
- The original topic was states' sanctuary laws that limit how local law enforcement can work with federal immigration officers.
- But Thursday's question were largely about border security, the mobilization of the National Guard in Los Angeles and whether the Democratic governors are supporting illegal immigration.
Zoom in: Republicans took aim at Pritzker, calling Chicago a haven for drugs and crime and pointing to crimes committed in Illinois by undocumented immigrants.
- In one heated moment, chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) repeatedly interrupted Pritzker while pressing him on a fatal crash involving an undocumented immigrant.
- Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), who doesn't sit on the Oversight committee but was allowed to speak, said "illegal aliens in our state have overwhelmed local communities and schools causing untold pain and suffering." She continued by asking Pritzker to apologize to family members of the woman who died in the fatal crash, who were present in the chambers.
- Pritzker was also asked to comment on border czar Tom Homan's perceived threats to arrest local officials who have sanctuary policies. Pritzker replied, "he can try."
The other side: Democrat representatives defended Pritzker, including Oversight Committee member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), who took his time to boast about Illinois' overall achievements.
- He also noted that it was Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner who first created Illinois' sanctuary laws, which allow state agencies to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers only when they present a federal warrant.
- " This is Illinois law," Krishnamoorthi said. "Donald Trump may not like state law as we are seeing in California, but what Donald Trump likes is irrelevant. The law is the law."
The intrigue: Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) quizzed Pritzker on transgender bathroom policies and Hamas — not immigration.
- The exchange fueled speculation that Pritzker could be 2028 presidential candidate.
Zoom out: This same Oversight Committee held a hearing in March with city mayors, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.