Live Stream: Governors from Democratic States Testifying on "Sanctuary" Policies as LA Protests Ensue Due to Immigration Raids
Washington D.C. - Three Democratic governors found themselves in the hot seat amidst a contentious House hearing, defending their states' policies towards immigrants and denying accusations of failing to cooperate with federal authorities on Thursday.
In the spotlight were New York's Governor Kathy Hochul, Illinois' Governor J.B. Pritzker, and Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz, who appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to discuss so-called "sanctuary policies."
The hearing took a markedly intense tone from the get-go, with committee chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, stating bluntly, "Sanctuary policies do not protect Americans. They protect criminal illegal aliens." Comer asserted that state and local officials were actively undermining federal immigration enforcement and questioned the rule of law.
Regarding the current immigration situation, Republican Comer exclaimed, "Despite President Trump's efforts to secure the border and enforce the law, Democrat-run sanctuary cities and states are siding with illegal aliens."
In response to this heated environment, the governors appeared defiant and steadfast in their defense of their states' policies. Their appearances came at a crucial time, as President Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom are embroiled in a political and legal standoff over the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles. Actions escalated to other U.S. cities, including New York and Chicago, following a series of deportation raids.
The committee's top Democrat, Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, reprimanded the Trump administration for its actions in addressing the protests in L.A., calling it "thuggery."
"This is wrong. Deploying the military against a civilian population is wrong," Lynch asserted. "If we don't step up and declare what is right under our Constitution, then other cities, other citizens, will meet this same fate."
Undeterred, Governor Walz vehemently pushed back on the premise of the hearing, asserting that "nothing Minnesota has done to serve its own people stands in the way of the federal government managing border security and policies." Walz, interestingly enough, noted that "while you've convened this hearing to explore the issue of so-called sanctuary states, Minnesota is not even a sanctuary state."
Both Walz and the other governors argued that enforcing immigration law was not the responsibility of local and state governments. Instead, they maintained it was the federal government's duty to secure the border.
The governors' appearances follow a March hearing with four Democratic mayors: Eric Adams of New York, Mike Johnston of Denver, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Michelle Wu of Boston. The Republican-led panel launched an investigation in January into "sanctuary jurisdictions," including states, counties, and cities, to examine their impact on public safety and federal immigration enforcement. President Trump vowed to crack down on localities that don't align with his immigration agenda.
Interestingly, the Department of Homeland Security removed its list of sanctuary jurisdictions after several cities challenged the findings. However, federal bills like the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act aim to block federal funding for such jurisdictions.
The governors' statements and the ongoing investigations underscore the deep-rooted disagreements and tensions surrounding immigrant policies in the United States. This discourse is likely to continue to dominate the political landscape as the country grapples with its stance on immigration reform.
Resources
- New York has no sanctuary policies, Hochul says in meeting with lawmakers
- About Sanctuary Cities
- Trump Administration Renews Push on Sanctuary Cities
- Sanctuary Policies and New York
News reports suggest that the governors of New York, Illinois, and Minnesota faced questioning over their states' migrant policies during a House hearing. This hearing, which delved into so-called sanctuary policies, was marked by intense debates over law enforcement and border security. The Republican chair of the committee, James Comer, accused these governors of undermining federal immigration law. In response, Governor Tim Walz asserted that Minnesota, contrary to popular belief, is not a sanctuary state. The governors contended that it was the federal government's responsibility to secure the border, not theirs. These debates highlight the ongoing controversies and tensions surrounding immigration policies in the United States, with deep-rooted disagreements dominating the political landscape. [General-news, politics, law, us news, crime-and-justice]
