House Republicans spar with Democratic governors in tense immigration hearing

Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Tim Walz of Minnesota appeared before the House Oversight Committee amid protests across the country over ICE raids.

House Republicans clashed with three Democratic governors over immigration policies during a testy hearing Thursday that served as a broader forum for one of President Donald Trump’s landmark issues amid the breakout of anti-deportation protests in California and across the country.

Over the course of an hourslong hearing convened by the House Oversight Committee on so-called sanctuary state policies, Republican lawmakers repeatedly accused those three blue-state leaders — Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Tim Walz of Minnesota — of bearing responsibility for the deaths and abuse of people who were killed or assaulted by immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally.

The three governors defended themselves, frequently and forcefully pointing out that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility — not a state one — and at times suggested that Republicans on the panel were creating a political spectacle to impress Trump.

House Democrats led the criticism of Trump directly, with some calling him a “gangster” or a “dictator” and others lambasting his decision to deploy National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to maintain control of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.

Conservatives have said sanctuary laws refer to policies that prevent local authorities from being compelled to participate in federal immigration enforcement. Trump has in his second term signed multiple executive orders that target such cities and states, including one that withholds federal funds.