In a contentious congressional hearing on Wednesday, Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois steadfastly defended his state’s handling of the migrant crisis and laws designed to protect undocumented immigrants. Appearing alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and New York Governor Kathy Hochul before the U.S. House Oversight Committee, Pritzker urged Republicans to collaborate on fixing the nation’s “broken immigration system.”
The hearing, chaired by U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky), immediately turned to the tragic death of Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old University of Illinois student killed in a January car crash involving Julio Cucul Bol, who entered the country with false documents.
Comer highlighted Abraham’s death, emphasizing the “real-world impact of the policies that you all continue to defend” and directly questioned Governor Pritzker on whether the individual responsible should have been in the United States.
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Governor Pritzker began by expressing his condolences to the Abraham family, calling the circumstances “terrible.” When pressed by Comer on whether the individual, being a criminal, had a right to be in the country illegally, Pritzker clarified that anyone who commits a crime should face due process and conviction. He emphasized that the responsibility for managing immigration lies with the federal government, not the states.
Comer escalated his accusations, alleging that Pritzker had turned Chicago into a “haven for drugs and crimes” by protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation. However, city records show that during the first five months of 2025, homicides in Chicago dropped 28% and shootings decreased by 35% compared to the same period in 2024. Comer broadly accused all three Democratic governors of prioritizing “criminal illegal aliens over the American people.”
Pritzker’s appearance marks the latest flashpoint in Illinois’ ongoing battle with the GOP-controlled U.S. House and the Trump administration, which is attempting to strip self-proclaimed sanctuary cities of federal funding.
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“I have seen firsthand how states have had to shoulder the consequences of a broken immigration system,” Pritzker testified. “I’m proud of how we have responded by promoting public safety, treating people with dignity, supporting our economy and respecting the rule of law.”
The hearing also coincided with anticipation of large-scale protests on Saturday against President Donald Trump and his efforts to carry out mass deportations. Pritzker sharply criticized Trump’s recent order to deploy U.S. Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass.
“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 asserted. “Just as it’s wrong to tear children away from their homes and their mothers and fathers who have spent decades living and working in our communities, raising their families.”
Pritzker affirmed that Illinois adheres to all federal laws. “But let me be clear: We expect the federal government to follow the law, too,” he stated. “We will not participate in abuses of power. We will not violate court orders. We will not ignore the Constitution. We will not defy the Supreme Court. We will not take away people’s rights to peacefully protest.”
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In his written opening statement, Pritzker acknowledged shared blame for the migrant crisis that has seen approximately 50,000 individuals, many fleeing violence and economic collapse in Venezuela, arrive in Chicago.
“Illinois chose a different path,” Pritzker told the committee. “Faced with a humanitarian crisis, our state made sure children and families did not go hungry or freeze to death.”
Pritzker, who is reportedly weighing a presidential run in 2028, has consistently opposed President Donald Trump’s policies. He told the committee that Illinois’ Trust Act, which prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration agents without judicial warrants, makes all Illinois residents safer.
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“We want our law enforcement officers focusing on 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,” Pritzker explained. “It is important that all members of the community trust law enforcement. Prosecuting criminals and preventing crime in our communities becomes exponentially harder when victims or witnesses do not come forward because they are undocumented and afraid of law enforcement.”
He concluded by stating that while violent criminals have no place in Illinois and should be removed from the country, the state will only cooperate with federal agents who have judge-signed warrants, refusing to participate in what he termed “violations of the law or abuses of power.”
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