Pritzker called to testify before Congress on Illinois’ immigration policies

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has been summoned to testify at a Congressional hearing about the state’s “sanctuary” laws to shield undocumented immigrants from federal authorities. The Governor is said to be “evaluating” the request to appear.

Committee Chair U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky) called on Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and New York Gov. Kathy Hocul to appear at a May 15th hearing.

“Harboring aliens is a federal crime. Sanctuary policies championed by these governors jeopardize the safety of Americans and defy U.S. immigration laws,” Comer said Thursday.

“President Trump is preparing to take executive action to withhold federal funding from sanctuary states. Working alongside President Trump, Congress must ensure federal immigration law is enforced and that criminal aliens are swiftly removed from our communities,” he added.

Hours before, Trump wrote on social media, “No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”

“Let’s call this what this is: another partisan dog and pony show,” Pritzker’s spokesperson Alex Gough said in a statement. “The governor is evaluating whether he should take time from his busy schedule serving the people of Illinois to educate the House GOP on these matters.”

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Illinois, alleging the state and the city of Chicago interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

“The conduct of officials in Chicago and Illinois minimally enforcing- and oftentimes affirmatively thwarting- federal immigration laws over a period of years has resulted in countless criminals being released into Chicago who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States,” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit claims those laws violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. That case is still ongoing.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson defended his city’s “sanctuary city” policies before the committee in March. Those policies partially contributed to Johnson’s 80% disapproval rating in a February poll.

Illinois prevents local authorities from cooperating with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) by way of the TRUST Act, the Way Forward Act, the Welcoming City Act, and a Cook County ordinance.

According to Gough, the Trust Act “is fully compliant with federal law and ensures law enforcement can focus on doing their actual jobs while empowering all members of the public — regardless of immigration status — to feel comfortable calling law enforcement to seek help, report crimes and cooperate in investigations.”

Illinois Republicans in the state Senate have introduced legislation that would repeal the Trust Act. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Office said the TRUST Act’s purpose is to build trust between law enforcement and migrants residing in Illinois.

A February investigation revealed that Pritzker’s administration greatly underestimated the cost of providing healthcare to undocumented migrants, costing the state $1.6 billion since 2020.

Without federal match dollars for treating immigrants as part of the state’s Health Benefits or Immigrant Adults program, Illinois taxpayers were left to pick up the tab.

In his annual budget address, Pritzker proposed cutting funding to a newer program that gives Medicaid-style health coverage to noncitizens between ages 44 and 65, but leaving another program, which caters to noncitizen seniors over 65, in place.

The state had estimated the cost of the program for younger people at $126 million, but the actual cost to taxpayers came in at $485 million over three years, the audit found.

As of December, 54,000 adults had enrolled in both programs, although the state had estimated 26,800.

In 2023, Pritzker pumped the brakes on the program after enrollments came in at a rate “more rapidly than people had anticipated when the program was put in place.”