Pritzker to defend Illinois sanctuary policies before Congress this week

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will join other Democratic governors to defend their states’ sanctuary policies before Congress this week.

“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 last week.

The hearing comes during escalating tensions nationwide as President Donald Trump has mobilized the National Guard and possibly the Marines to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducting immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, California.

Confrontations began Friday when dozens of protesters gathered outside a federal detention center demanding the release of more than 40 people arrested by federal immigration authorities across Los Angeles, as part of Trump’s mass deportation campaign, and continued throughout the week.

Earlier this year, 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 June 12th 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.

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

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.

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.