Illinois Governor JB Pritzker news: Governos to testify in Washington DC in front of House Oversight Committee on sanctuary law
Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON (WLS) — Gov. JB Pritzker is preparing to answer challenging inquiries regarding Illinois’ sanctuary law from a congressional committee led by Republicans this Thursday.

Pritzker’s remarks are scheduled amidst increased immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration, which have sparked notable opposition in Chicago and other areas.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Pritzker has been in Washington since Sunday.

Three months ago, Mayor Brandon Johnson testified before the same committee investigating sanctuary cities.

The governor’s congressional testimony coincides with recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Chicago and escalating disputes over immigration enforcement, which may increase the tension of the hearing, as Pritzker mentioned last week.

The hearing is expected to begin at 9 a.m. CT and last most of the day.

ABC7 Chicago Political Analyst Laura Washington spoke on Thursday morning on what to expect from the Congress hearing.

In more than five pages of written testimony submitted by the governor to the U.S. House Oversight Committee ahead of hours of questions from lawmakers, Pritzker detailed how Illinois responded to the migrant crisis and the rationale for Illinois’ “sanctuary state” law.

“We can have a secure border while also having real immigration pathways that allow people to come here, work, and support themselves on a reasonable timeline,” Pritzker wrote. “Our prosperity and our national security demand it.”

At the center of Thursday’s hearing is Illinois’ TRUST Act – the 2017 law signed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner that prohibits Illinois law enforcement from detaining a person based solely on their immigration status. Pritzker wrote in his testimony that this law does not interfere with federal immigration laws.

“Illinois follows federal and state laws and will continue to do so,” Pritzker wrote. “We expect the federal government to do the same. Federal officials should operate in Illinois, as they do in every state, to enforce federal immigration policy, but we will not divert our limited resources and officers to do the job of the federal government when it is not in the best interest of our state.”

Pritzker’s written testimony also sought to push back on allegations that sanctuary polices have made Chicago and Illinois more dangerous. The governor detailed his administration’s investments in policing and gun violence prevention, particularly as Illinois dealt with an influx of migrants.

Ahead of the hearing, the state of Illinois retained outside counsel to provide expertise in order to respond to the committee’s requests, the spokesperson said, claiming that “congressional Republicans are wasting taxpayer dollars all to find out that Illinois has always followed the law.”

Tim Walz of Minnesota and Kathy Hochul of New York will also appear at the U.S. Capitol for a closely watched hearing that comes as another Democratic-led state — California — is grappling with a slew of immigration-related protests that triggered President Donald Trump to deploy U.S. Marines and the National Guard to the area.

House Oversight Chair James Comer requested in April that these Democratic governors testify, claiming that the “Trump administration is taking decisive action to deport criminal illegal aliens from our nation, but reckless sanctuary states like Illinois, Minnesota, and New York are actively seeking to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.”

ABC News contributed to this report.

Capitol News Illinois’ Ben Szalinski contributed to this report.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Why Yankees jumped on Ryan McMahon trade — and gave up on Eugenio Suarez

Why the Yankees Chose to Trade for Ryan McMahon and Move On from Eugenio Suarez

The Yankees focused on scoring rather than seeking a home run at…
Rear view of the Icon of the Seas cruise ship in Miami.

Tragic Incident: Crew Member Falls Overboard and Dies on Icon of the Seas in the Caribbean, Prompting Rescue Effort

A crew member from Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas cruise ship…
Residents wade through a flooded street in Malabon City, Philippines.

Tropical storms cause devastating flash floods and landslides in the Philippines, leaving many dead

AT least 25 people have been killed and nearly 300,000 evacuated as…
Suspects in Kansas City Chiefs fans’ deaths face murder charges for first time in crucial test for case

Suspects in Chiefs Fan Murder Case Say DNA Results Have No Set Timeline

On Thursday, two men stood before the court to answer for murder…
Screenshot of Jeffrey Dahmer being interviewed on television.

I’ve Looked Into the Eyes of Serial Killers and Seen Evil—Here’s Why Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer Was the Most Terrifying of Them All

When journalist Nancy Glass locked eyes with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, she…
Early Hawaiian petroglyphs on a beach are visible again with changing tides and shifting sands

Ancient Hawaiian Petroglyphs Reappear on Beach as Tides and Sands Shift

WAIANAE, Hawaii (AP) — In Oahu, Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least…
Hilliard house shooting leaves 3 dead, shooter on life support

Hilliard House Shooting Results in 3 Deaths, Shooter Critically Injured

Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said a five-year-old child ran to a…
How law enforcement's discovery of rare drug in Suzanne Morphew's body led to her husband's eventual arrest

Barry Morphew Could Leverage Unknown DNA Evidence in His Defense for Wife’s Murder, Says Former Prosecutor

A former deputy district attorney believes Barry Morphew will try and use…
Trump heads to Scotland to talk golf, politics and trade

Trump Visits Scotland to Discuss Golf, Politics, and Trade

President Donald Trump is set to travel to Scotland on Friday for…
Trump administration to release withheld grants for education programs

Trump government plans to distribute previously withheld funding for educational programs

On July 1, President Donald Trump’s administration put a hold on $6…
WATCH: ‘Top Gun’ Meets NASCAR With Historic Move at Military Base

WATCH: NASCAR Makes History with ‘Top Gun’-Inspired Event at Military Base

A report from NASCAR News announced that the Coronado Naval Air Station…
Terrified passengers 'flew out of their seats' during dramatic Southwest nosedive to avoid mid-air crash

Panic Aboard: Passengers Thrown from Seats During Southwest’s Sudden Dive to Evade Mid-Air Collision

Passengers on Southwest flight 1496, traveling from Burbank to Las Vegas, encountered…