Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will appear before Congress next month to testify on “sanctuary policies that shield criminal illegal aliens from immigration enforcement.”
U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., announced that Walz, alongside Govs. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Kathy Hochul of New York, will testify on June 12, 2025.
Sanctuary policies limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, such as restricting information sharing and detainee transfers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Sanctuary policies only provide sanctuaries for criminal illegal aliens,” Comer stated. “Former President Biden created the worst border crisis in U.S. history, and allowed criminal illegal aliens to flood our communities. President Trump has ended this crisis, securing our borders. Yet, states like Minnesota, Illinois, and New York obstruct federal efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens.
“The governors of these states must explain why they are prioritizing the protection of criminal illegal aliens over the safety of U.S. citizens, and they must be held accountable,” added Chairman Comer.
Comer launched an investigation into sanctuary jurisdictions in January 2025, targeting states, counties, and cities that restrict cooperation with federal deportation efforts of illegal immigrants.
In March, the committee held a hearing with mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City to examine municipal sanctuary policies.
In April, Comer expanded the investigation, requesting documents from Walz, Pritzker, and Hochul and initially inviting them to testify on May 15. The hearing was rescheduled to June 12. The session will examine how these states’ policies impact public safety and federal immigration enforcement.
Comer explained in an April letter to Walz that “Minnesota is a sanctuary jurisdiction under an erroneous interpretation of law.”
“Specifically, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison recently issued a formal legal opinion stating that holding an illegal alien pursuant to an ICE detainer request would constitute an unreasonable ‘seizure’ under both the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 10 of the Minnesota Constitution,” Comer wrote.
“Moreover, Governor Tim Walz engaged in rhetoric and efforts to make Minnesota an attractive destination for illegal aliens. In 2023, Governor Walz signed legislation expanding eligibility to illegal aliens for state sponsored healthcare, Minnesota driver’s licenses, and free college tuition. Governor Walz also stated that local law enforcement should only be responsible for ‘state and local laws, not federal immigration laws.’”
Comer’s announcement comes as German Adriano Llangari Inga, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador, faces charges for allegedly crashing into and killing a Minneapolis mother while driving drunk last year. He was arrested Saturday morning.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said earlier this year that his police department would not cooperate with ICE while the White House criticized politicians in St. Paul for failing to protect their communities “from violent illegal immigrant criminals.”
Symone Harms
Symone Harms is a Media Production and Business Marketing student at Bethel University. She is actively involved in The Royals Investment Fund, The 25, theatre, and other leadership positions. She also cohosts Rooted, a podcast dedicated to being rooted in truth, growing in freedom, and prospering in life. A Minnesota native with a passion for storytelling and digital media, she aspires to a career in broadcasting as a news anchor and reporter.
