NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Kathy Hochul will head to Washington, D.C., next month to take part in a congressional hearing on the state's "sanctuary" policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration agents.
The hearing is scheduled to be held by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee on June 12. Two other Democratic governors—Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz—are also set to testify.
Hochul’s office confirmed she’ll testify and will defend the state’s current practice of assisting the federal government with criminal cases but not civil immigration cases.
In a statement, her office said: “Governor Hochul has voluntarily agreed to appear before the committee and will reiterate what she’s said dozens of times: New York cooperates with federal immigration officials to deport violent criminals, but absolutely does not support cruel actions that tear families apart or rip children away from their parents.”
As President Donald Trump’s administration continues a sweeping immigration enforcement crackdown, the House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into so-called sanctuary cities and states that limited their cooperation with federal immigration agents. The committee has demanded documents and correspondents from mostly Democratic states and municipalities like New York.
In a letter to Hochul date from April, Chair Rep. James Comer said the committee is investigating “sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States and their impact on public safety and the effectiveness of federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws of the United States.”
Comer summoned Hochul to testify, citing her previous comments Hochul made calling New York counties that cooperate with ICE "renegade counties" and insisting state police "will not cooperate" with ICE to detain people in the country illegally.
Hochul has continued the policies of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who signed an executive order in 2017 that prohibits state agencies and officers from inquiring about or disclosing an individual's immigration status unless required by law or to determine eligibility for a benefit or service.
Hochul’s testimony will follow Mayor Eric Adams, who was on Capitol Hill in March to testify on New York City’s sanctuary policies. The mayor has similarly said that the NYPD will assist with criminal cases but not immigration-related civil cases.
"City law makes it unlawful to collaborate with ICE for civil enforcement," Adams testified. "We comply with all of these legal requirements and still manage the humanitarian crisis with the care and compassion, while at the same time bringing down crime, recovering our economy, and preventing any child from being forced to sleep on the streets."