WASHINGTON — Tensions flared as President Donald Trump confronted California’s governor over immigration policy, prompting Republican lawmakers in Congress to summon Democratic governors to a hearing focused on policies that limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hosted the session amid mounting scrutiny of policies labeled as “sanctuary” by Republicans.
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer commenced the hearing by highlighting a case involving the family of a young woman fatally injured in a hit-and-run in Illinois. He argued that the state’s sanctuary policies may have enabled the illegal presence of the other driver involved in the crash. “Sanctuary policies do not protect Americans; they protect criminal illegal aliens,” he asserted, setting a combative tone for the day.
Throughout the hearing, GOP members repeatedly clashed with the Democratic governors, linking immigrant crime to their policies. The session at times descends into chaotic exchanges, with lawmakers interrupting one another during heated discussions. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico noted the spectacle, quipping, “Welcome everyone to the Oversight reality TV show,” in response to the intense atmosphere.
The committee’s spotlight included 14 states, including Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, recently categorized by the Department of Homeland Security as “sanctuary jurisdictions.” However, the department removed the list following backlash, as it inaccurately included some jurisdictions supportive of Trump’s immigration policies.
As Trump intensifies immigration enforcement, several Democratic-led states have countered by enacting laws that restrict cooperation with federal agents. New York Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted an ongoing militarization of cities against the wishes of state leadership, labeling it a “flagrant abuse of power.”
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York presented graphic accounts of crimes she alleged were committed by undocumented immigrants, accusing Hochul of failing to advocate for victims. Hochul fervently denied these claims, arguing that New York does cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in criminal matters.
The gubernatorial discourse escalated when Rep. Nick Langworthy suggested Hochul’s policies contributed to the death of a University of Georgia student, Laken Riley, killed by an undocumented immigrant. Hochul expressed sympathy but insisted her policies did not impede law enforcement or civil enforcement activities.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was the first to testify, calling into question the label of a “sanctuary state” for Minnesota. He pointed out that while the state lacks a law specifically protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation, major cities have enacted policies limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration efforts. “Enforcing immigration law is not the role of local and state governments,” Walz stated, highlighting the boundary of local authority.
Illinois, under the aegis of the Illinois Trust Act passed in 2017, has policies that prevent police from detaining individuals solely based on immigration status while allowing detention where valid criminal warrants exist. Democratic Governor JB Pritzker has publicly opposed any federal overreach, stating, “We will not participate in abuses of power.”
The contentious exchanges underscored the political divide over immigration policy in the U.S. and the ongoing struggle between federal and state authority.
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