(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker prepares to testify about the state’s migrant sanctuary policies in the wake of violent protests in California around immigration enforcement.
Riots through the weekend between protesters and state and local law enforcement in Los Angeles led to the Trump administration calling in the National Guard. California Gov. Gavin Newsom didn’t request the National Guard and announced he’s suing President Donald Trump.
“This is a manufactured crisis,” Newsom posted on X. “He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S. constitution. The illegal order he signed could allow him to send the military into ANY STATE HE WISHES. Every governor – red or blue – should reject this outrageous overreach.”
Newsom said his alarm is not hyperbole.
“This is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism that threatens the foundation of our republic,” he posted. “We cannot let it stand.”
Pritzker hasn’t released any statements about what’s happening in Los Angeles.
Late last week, Pritzker laid out what he is expected to tell members of Congress at Thursday’s U.S. House hearing on sanctuary states.
“Happy to tell them how we here in Illinois have laws on the books that are a result, by the way, of their failure in Washington to deal with comprehensive immigration reform,” Pritzker said.
Illinois law prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement.
Pritzker is taking part in a hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 12, alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Running for U.S. Senate, Pamela Denise Long said Trump is doing what has to be done.
“The president is absolutely right to send in the National Guard if states like California and or Illinois are so committed to their sanctuary status and unequal protections that they will allow people to fly foreign flags in our nation while literally pointing strobe lights into the eyes of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents,” Long told The Center Square.
Long said there shouldn’t be any sanctuary jurisdictions.
“The very thought that we create a whole space in the United States where federal law is sort of ignored, that we require law enforcement agents to be antagonistic with the federal government,” Long said. “The federal government has to take a stand to get law and order, and let people know that you can fly your foreign flag in your homeland, but you cannot come here and be unlawful and try to harm our law enforcement agents.”
Long is vying to get the GOP nomination for the seat being vacated by Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, who is not seeking reelection.
Things in Chicago last week didn’t rise to the level they did in L.A., but Chicago police had confrontations with activists protesting immigration actions in the Windy City.
Durbin said the immigration actions last week drew Chicago officers away from combating narcotics and violent crime, and that “America is not safer or stronger with this Trump plan.”
“Individuals with no record of dangerous crime are being rounded up at great expense and removed even when they are awaiting a court hearing,” Durbin said.
