Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois recently appeared before the House Oversight Committee, alongside other Democratic governors from states including New York and Minnesota, to testify on their specific immigration policies. In conclusion of the hearing that lasted an extensive seven hours, Pritzker called upon the Congress to favor bipartisan support for much-needed immigration reform.
“We have nearly balanced representation between both parties in this Congress,” Pritzker stated, advocating for collective action. He went further, challenging them, “Isn’t it the apex of necessity that you unite and accomplish comprehensive immigration reform?”
Pritzker directed his comments specifically to the Republican party, “Getting united with the Democrats will facilitate the formation of an arrangement that will enhance border security, simultaneously establishing access for diligent people aiming to form families and give an uplift to our economy in the United States.”
Revision in sanctuary policies was the suggestion by Alabama’s Republican Representative Gary Palmer. His stand was that the existing policies potentially threaten national security, and he even extreme enough to suggest that the governors be taken into custody for harboring such policies.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a Democrat, rejected Palmer’s threat of arrest as an intimidation tactic. She requested that these statements be eliminated from the minutes of the meeting. It appears that her request may have been acknowledged.
Democrat Representative Maxwell Frost from Florida directed a question to Pritzker and the other Governors present at the hearing. The focus of his question was on the actions they would take if federal officials endeavored to arrest them for blocking immigration enforcement efforts.
Responding to this question, Pritzker stated, “As an initial note, my premier obligation is to ensure the protection of my state’s citizens.” He further displayed empathy for Abraham’s family, who were part of the attendants, and reiterated that it’s in the federal government’s jurisdiction to implement immigration policies.
The hearing was kicked off by House Oversight Committee chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who referenced a tragic incident involving the demise of 20-year-old University of Illinois student, Katie Abraham. It was reported that Katie lost her life in a car crash involving an individual without proper immigration documentation.
Governor Pritzker, now in his second term, is prepared to defend his state’s regulation, which he believes complies with federal law and does not hamper cooperation in the capture of criminals. Furthermore, he posits that the state’s approach actually fortifies public safety by nurturing a sense of trust between enforcement agencies and immigrant communities.
Pritzker further plans on discussing his own family history as immigrants during the hearing. He hopes to utilize his personal narrative to advocate for a policy that provides “a secure border while also establishing authentic immigration routes for people to work, live, and build their lives here in a reasonable timeframe.”
Pritzker’s great-grandfather, Nicholas, himself an immigrant, sought and found refuge in United States in the late 19th Century. Fleeing from the Russian pogroms in 1881, he was able to rebuild his life in this country.
“Our nation’s existing immigration system is faulty, and both major parties are responsible for this,” Pritzker ventured. He added, “My hope is that this committee will rise above politics and become part of the resolution, adopting a bipartisan approach to comprehensive federal immigration reform.”