Pritzker prepares to testify on Illinois’ migrant sanctuary policies
[June 10, 2025]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker prepares to testify
about the state's migrant sanctuary policies in the wake of violent
protests in California around immigration enforcement.
Riots through the weekend between protesters and state and local law
enforcement in Los Angeles led to the Trump administration calling in
the National Guard. California Gov. Gavin Newsom didn’t request the
National Guard and announced he’s suing President Donald Trump.
“This is a manufactured crisis,” Newsom posted on X. “He is creating
fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S.
constitution. The illegal order he signed could allow him to send the
military into ANY STATE HE WISHES. Every governor – red or blue – should
reject this outrageous overreach.”
Newsom said his alarm is not hyperbole.
“This is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism that threatens the
foundation of our republic,” he posted. “We cannot let it stand.”
Pritzker hasn’t released any statements about what’s happening in Los
Angeles.
Late last week, Pritzker laid out what he is expected to tell members of
Congress at Thursday’s U.S. House hearing on sanctuary states.
“Happy to tell them how we here in Illinois have laws on the books that
are a result, by the way, of their failure in Washington to deal with
comprehensive immigration reform," Pritzker said.
Illinois law prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting
federal immigration enforcement.
Pritzker is taking part in a hearing before the U.S. House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform on June 12, alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim
Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Running for U.S. Senate, Pamela Denise Long said Trump is doing what has
to be done.
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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker during a news conference June 5, 2025 -
Illinois.gov
“The president is absolutely right to send in the National Guard if
states like California and or Illinois are so committed to their
sanctuary status and unequal protections that they will allow people to
fly foreign flags in our nation while literally pointing strobe lights
into the eyes of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents,” Long
told The Center Square.
Long said there shouldn’t be any sanctuary jurisdictions.
“The very thought that we create a whole space in the United States
where federal law is sort of ignored, that we require law enforcement
agents to be antagonistic with the federal government,” Long said. “The
federal government has to take a stand to get law and order, and let
people know that you can fly your foreign flag in your homeland, but you
cannot come here and be unlawful and try to harm our law enforcement
agents.”
Long is vying to get the GOP nomination for the seat being vacated by
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, who is not seeking
reelection.
Things in Chicago last week didn’t rise to the level they did in L.A.,
but Chicago police had confrontations with activists protesting
immigration actions in the Windy City.
Durbin said the immigration actions last week drew Chicago officers away
from combating narcotics and violent crime, and that “America is not
safer or stronger with this Trump plan.”
“Individuals with no record of dangerous crime are being rounded up at
great expense and removed even when they are awaiting a court hearing,”
Durbin said. |
