Pritzker defends Illinois’ immigration laws in theatrical congressional
hearing
[June 13, 2025]
By Ben Szalinski
Gov. JB Pritzker spent hours Thursday defending his governing record and
Illinois’ immigration policies as he was peppered with questions from
members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee.
Pritzker and Democratic governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz
of Minnesota were summoned to Washington, D.C., by committee Chair James
Comer, R-Ky., to answer questions about “sanctuary states.” The hearing
mostly involved lectures from Republican members arguing immigration
policies like Illinois’ diminish public safety while Democratic members
blasted the Trump administration’s deportation raids.
“I invited these governors here today because as the chief executives of
their states, they willfully ignore federal law, shield illegal aliens
and pass the cost of free services onto their hardworking taxpayers,”
Comer said. “It’s hard to figure out whose side these governors are on.
They shield criminals while their own citizens pay the price.”
Pritzker countered by reiterating a point he has made publicly in
Illinois several times since November’s election.
“As I have consistently said, violent criminals have no place on our
streets, and if they are undocumented, I want them out of Illinois and
out of our country,” Pritzker said. “And as we are reminded in Los
Angeles this week, we can all agree that violence of any kind, whomever
it is directed at, is unacceptable.”
Pritzker’s appearance before the committee came as nationwide protests
grew over the Trump administration’s deportation tactics and increasing
arrest numbers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, especially in Los
Angeles.
After protests and violence in that city last weekend prompted President
Donald Trump to deploy hundreds of troops, thousands of people marched
through the streets of Chicago this week protesting immigration raids.
Some protestors briefly clashed with police, and 17 people were
arrested, according to Chicago Police.
Dozens more protests are planned in Chicago and around Illinois on
Saturday. Dubbed as “No King” protests, the gatherings are designed to
contrast with a military parade planned by Trump in Washington on
Saturday celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday. Saturday is also
Trump’s 79th birthday.
Pritzker said if the Illinois National Guard ever needs to be activated
to quell civil unrest, it’s done in coordination with local law
enforcement. He criticized Trump’s deployment of the Guard in Los
Angeles.
“It’s 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,” Pritzker said.
Republicans on the committee alleged “sanctuary state” laws violate
federal immigration laws. Illinois’ 2017 TRUST Act, signed by Republican
Gov. Bruce Rauner, prohibits Illinois law enforcement from detaining
people based on their immigration status and assisting in civil
immigration enforcement. Law enforcement cannot hold people based on
federal immigration warrants in most cases, but they can make arrests
for federal criminal warrants.
Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., suggested the three governors be criminally
charged with obstruction because of their states’ laws. His comments
follow Trump’s suggestion that California Gov. Gavin Newsom should be
arrested.
“I have the highest duty to protect the people of my state, and indeed
if Tom Homan were to come to my state and try to arrest us, me rather, I
can say first of all that he can try,” Pritzker said of Trump’s border
czar. “I can also tell you I will stand in the way of Tom Homan going
after people who don’t deserve to be frightened in their community.”
Homan told CNN earlier this week Newsom hasn’t done anything to require
an arrest.
Controversy over Illinois’ immigration policies
Pritzker blamed decades of federal government inaction on immigration
and border security for exacerbating issues in the U.S. He also
acknowledged to Comer that President Joe Biden inadequately handled
immigration, particularly as 50,000 migrants were sent to Illinois
mostly by the governor of Texas.
“We’re not in charge of the border in Illinois, I can tell you that,”
Pritzker later told Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas. “We don’t have a border
with a foreign country. … We had 50,000 people who came from Texas
because they were shipped to us. And let me tell you, I was in favor of
helping them.”
Read more: Pritzker to tell Congress ‘both parties are to blame’ for
broken immigration system
[to top of second column]
|
Gov. JB Pritzker speaks to the U.S. House Oversight Committee on
Thursday, June 12, 2025. Pritzker and two other Democratic governors
were summoned to address the committee about “sanctuary state”
policies. (Screenshot from U.S. House Oversight Committee livestream)
Pritzker occasionally butted heads with Republicans throughout the
hearing. Comer questioned the governor about the death of Katie Abraham
in an Urbana car crash. She was killed in January by a suspected drunken
driver illegally in the United States, according to WCIA. The GOP
members mentioned several crime victims by name throughout the hearing.
Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican from Hindsboro, accused Pritzker of
“rolling out the red carpet for illegal aliens,” adding “illegal aliens
in our state have overwhelmed our communities.”
“I am not going to be lectured to by someone who extolled the virtues of
Adolf Hitler,” Pritzker said, alluding to comments Miller made on Jan.
6, 2021.
Given multiple scenarios about what should happen to people who commit
crimes while illegally in the country, Pritzker reiterated he supports
deporting violent people but emphasized that must happen with due
process. Democrats have argued Trump’s administration is deporting
people without due process.
Republicans also criticized Illinois’ recent budgets for providing more
than $1 billion of state health care benefits to people without
documentation along with other programs for noncitizens. However,
Pritzker is expected to sign a new state budget this month that
eliminates a $330 million health care program for immigrants between
ages 42 and 64.
“You do not keep track of any public service dollars in the state of
Illinois that goes to illegal immigrants?” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.,
asked Pritzker after the governor didn’t offer specifics about exactly
how much Illinois spends on “illegal immigration.”
And while Pritzker cast some blame on Republican-led border states for
making Illinois part of recent waves of millions of migrants, Rep. Andy
Biggs, R-Ariz., remarked that while “Illinois didn’t ask for this
crisis” as Pritzker said in his opening remarks, “neither did Yuma,
Arizona.”
The hearing’s message
The hearing veered off topic several times. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a
Schaumburg Democrat, praised Pritzker’s work on the economy and spent
time discussing Pope Leo XIV’s White Sox loyalty while Texas Republican
Rep. Brandon Gill asked Pritzker whether he’s ever used a woman’s
restroom.
“You’re admitting that this is just a political circus,” Pritzker
responded to Gill.
Aside from Gill’s question about bathrooms, Pritzker largely avoided any
immigration-related viral moments. The most intense grilling was
reserved for Walz as the Democrat’s 2024 vice presidential nominee and
Hochul over high-profile murders in New York.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., remarked the hearing featured a possible
preview of the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. Pritzker and Walz
are both viewed as possible candidates in the next presidential
election.
Pritzker’s appearance at the committee hearing is the latest opportunity
to grow his national profile. His schedule throughout 2025 has been
dotted with national media interviews and out-of-state speaking
engagements where he has often called for more protests of the Trump
administration.
He echoed that message again Thursday.
“I encourage people to peacefully protest, and I have said that many
times,” he said.
Pritzker said Trump “has created a situation where people are afraid.”
“They’re afraid they’re going to get targeted because that is what’s
happening under this administration. People are getting individually
targeted when they stand up and speak out,” Pritzker said.
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