Democratic governors defend immigration policies in heated House hearing

06/16/2025 / By Laura Harris

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz testified before the House Oversight Committee, defending their immigration policies amid Republican accusations of undermining federal enforcement.
Oversight Chair James Comer and other GOP lawmakers accused the governors of protecting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, framing sanctuary policies as a threat to public safety.
The governors rejected the accusations, emphasized the federal government’s responsibility for border security and called for comprehensive immigration reform rather than political grandstanding.
Walz defended his past deployment of the National Guard during the George Floyd protests, while Pritzker and Hochul criticized federal overreach and highlighted the strain caused by migrant relocations from border states.
Ahead of the hearing, the Republican-led committee posted a video on social media accusing the governors of “shielding criminal illegal aliens,” using arrest footage and past statements to frame the governors’ policies as contributors to statewide “chaos.”

Three Democratic governors forcefully defended their states’ immigration policies before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during a tense and, at times, combative hearing on Thursday, June 12.

The hearing convened by Rep James Comer (R-KY), the committee’s chairman, focused on growing tensions between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration’s revived immigration crackdown. Comer used his opening remarks to accuse New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of “actively undermining federal immigration enforcement,” claiming their states shield “criminal illegal aliens” from justice. (Related: Representative Tenney calls for defunding sanctuary cities and sanctuary CAMPUSES at U.S. universities.)

“Let me be clear: Sanctuary policies do not protect Americans. They protect criminal illegal aliens,” Comer said in his opening statement.

The governors defended their records and emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, not political theater.

Walz noted that Minnesota is not technically a “sanctuary” jurisdiction and argued that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. He also defended his decision to deploy the National Guard during the George Floyd protests in 2020, which Republican lawmakers repeatedly cited to support the Trump administration’s militarized response to more recent protests.

Hochul, whose state has seen more than 220,000 migrants arrive in New York City since 2022, said New York has been overwhelmed by a “broken border,” but has managed the influx while still ensuring public safety.

“My views on immigration are simple and direct,” she said. “Our nation needs secure borders. Our nation needs comprehensive immigration reform from this body. And our state laws dictate that we cooperate with ICE in criminal cases, and our values dictate that we treat all law-abiding people with dignity and respect.”

The New York governor also pushed back when Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) suggested that her policies were to blame for the horrific crimes.

Oversight Committee accuses sanctuary cities of “shielding criminal illegal aliens”

Pritzker echoed Hochul’s frustrations, blaming not only the federal government but also southern states for busing migrants north with little coordination.

“Illinois follows the law, but let me be clear, we expect the federal government to follow the law, too,” Pritzker said. “We will not participate in abuses of power.”

He also condemned the use of military force in American cities, claiming, “It is wrong to deploy the National Guard and active-duty Marines into an American city over the objection of local law enforcement just to inflame a situation and create a crisis.”

Before the hearing, the Republican-led committee released a video montage featuring news clips that accused the governors of “shielding” undocumented immigrants and contributing to “chaos” in their states. Republicans have long opposed sanctuary policies, arguing they enable immigrants with criminal records to evade deportation.

“Sanctuary governors are shielding criminal illegal aliens, then pretending the consequences don’t exist. Tomorrow, Hochul, Walz and Pritzker will be in the hot seat as their policies cause CHAOS in their states. Here’s what they don’t want you to see,” the Oversight Committee posted on X Wednesday, June 11. The committee also shared footage featuring immigrant arrests and past statements from the governors defending their immigration policies.

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Watch JD Rucker discussing how Trump is seeking an executive order to end sanctuary cities in this clip.

This video is from the JD Rucker channel on Brighteon.com.