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Illinois Gov. JB Pretzker will be one of several Democrat governors expected to face the grill before GOP lawmakers at Thursday’s hearing on the controversial US sanctuary status.
According to prepared remarks obtained by Fox News Digital, Pritzker defended state policy and said his administration was left to fill the void with no federal assistance in dealing with the border crisis.
He accuses certain border state governors and mayors of abandoning the country’s highest ideals by spending millions of taxpayer dollars treating immigrants as “pawns” rather than doing everything possible to make American promises into American practice.
He targets Republican government. He would argue that actions were political stunts that exacerbated the problem by busing illegal immigrants into liberal cities and nations in the north.
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Illinois Governor JB Pretzker will speak at the office of the Center for American Progressives (CAP) Action Fund, held in Washington, DC on March 18, 2025. Pretzker spoke about his views on President Donald Trump’s administration so far. (Anna Money Maker/Getty Images)
Pretzker would say Illinois resources have been strained due to lack of federal support from both Republicans and Democrats during the crisis.
The Democratic governor is expected to highlight his state’s efforts to deal with the influx of immigrants into “Lincoln land” by handling new arrivals, supporting temporary shelters and permanent housing, allowing them to live independently and contribute to the economy.
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It should be noted that Pretzker did not stop the administration from focusing on public safety by investing in state and local law enforcement agencies, including Illinois State Police (ISP) troopers, despite the tensions in state resources during this period. He highlights statistics showing that violent crime has fallen under his stewardship.
Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ill. talks with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel Slams President Donald Trump in a recent interview. (Screenshot/ABC)
It is important to note that Pretzker reaffirms intolerance towards violent offenders, whether documented or undocumented, and that Illinois law allows government officials to work with federal immigration officials who execute criminal warrants.
He is expected to say federal officials are welcome to operate in Illinois, but makes it clear that if Illinois is not in the state’s best interest, it will not divert limited resources. He would say he hopes residents will be comfortable relying on local law enforcement for help.
The Pritzker is also expected to evoke the history of his own family, who fled to the United States to escape the Russian massacre of Ukrainian Jews.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pretzker speaks in Wisconsin. (@jbpritzker)
He is expected to plead Congress to fix the country’s broken immigration system so that law-abiding immigrant families can have the same opportunity as his family. The governor closes his statement by insisting that reforms in the system do not need to come to secure borders.
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The Pretzker will be joined by fellow Democratic governments. Tim Waltz of Minnesota and Kathy Hochul of New York. The “hearing with the Sanctuary Governor” will begin at 10am in front of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Paul Steinheiser of Fox News contributed to this report.
Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital Breaking Reporter that covers crime, political issues and more.
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