The House Oversight Committee held a hearing in Washington D.C. on the 12th, where three Democratic governors, Kathy Hochul of New York, JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, were invited to testify and be questioned about their respective “sanctuary policies” and the enforcement issues faced by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The three governors staunchly defended their sanctuary policies and criticized the federal government’s deployment of troops to address immigration violence protests in Los Angeles, calling it a violation of local sovereignty.
Republican members of Congress criticized the “sanctuary state” policies for providing excessive protection to illegal immigrants, hindering federal immigration enforcement, leading to an increase in crime rates and strained local resources, posing a challenge to public safety.
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer stated at the beginning of the hearing, “Sanctuary policies do not protect Americans, they only protect illegal criminals.”
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik cited several cases of serious crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants in New York, including a Guatemalan man suspected of setting fire inside a subway car leading to death, as well as two cases of child sexual assault; Hochul responded that she was not familiar with the specific cases.
Another Republican congressman, Jim Jordan, questioned Governor Hochul about a controversial release case. In the case, Jesus Romero-Hernandez, a Mexican immigrant with a violent criminal record who entered the country illegally, was released early by a local police department in Tompkins County, New York, despite ICE holding an arrest warrant. Hochul responded by stating that the state cooperates with the federal government in immigration-related criminal cases but did not provide a clear comment on the county police department’s handling.
Congressman Nick Langworthy brought up the case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was killed last year, attributing it to New York City’s sanctuary policy and bail reform law. The suspect in the case, Venezuelan citizen José Antonio Ibarra, entered the country illegally in 2022. ICE stated that Ibarra had an arrest warrant issued against him after a previous arrest in New York City but was released by local law enforcement before the warrant could be executed.
During the hearing, Governor Hochul emphasized that since she took office as governor in 2021, New York State has assisted in the deportation of over 1,300 illegal immigrants with criminal records. She also mentioned that a 2017 executive order signed by former governor Andrew Cuomo explicitly prohibits state officials and law enforcement from inquiring or disclosing residents’ immigration status unless it involves a criminal case, and requires equal treatment of all residents by the state.
“Our state law clearly dictates cooperation with ICE in criminal cases,” she said, reiterating her support for strengthening border security and calling on Congress to push for comprehensive immigration reform.
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee and Congressman from Kentucky, James Comer, stated that while the federal government is taking action to deport criminal illegal immigrants, sanctuary policies in states like Illinois, Minnesota, and New York enable crime and hinder enforcement.
During the hearing, Governor Pritzker of Illinois criticized the federal government for sending National Guard and active-duty Marines into U.S. cities to address immigrant violence protests despite opposition from local law enforcement; Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch criticized the recent use of the National Guard by the federal government in Los Angeles to handle protests, calling it an “abuse of power” and causing tension in local communities.
According to data from the New York City government, approximately 37,600 immigrants are currently receiving assistance from the city government, significantly lower than the peak last year. The state and city governments of New York have allocated approximately $43 billion and $68 billion respectively for expenditures on providing sanctuary, medical care, housing, and social services.