Democratic governors strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to California amid protests against immigration enforcement policies. New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the militarization of an American city as an abuse of power and an assault on American values. The deployment sparked clashes between California Governor Gavin Newsom and Trump, illustrating the ongoing tensions.

The governors, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, voiced their opposition to the deployment and emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights and peaceful protest. They also criticized Congress for failing to address comprehensive immigration reform.

The hearing highlighted the divide between Democratic and Republican approaches to immigration enforcement, with Republican representatives like Elise Stefanik questioning New York’s sanctuary policies. The discussion also delved into high-profile cases involving undocumented immigrants, such as the Sebastian Zapeta-Calil incident, underscoring the complexities of immigration enforcement.

Amid calls for bipartisan solutions, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to protecting their residents from intimidation by federal authorities. They emphasized the need for collaboration and condemned threats of arrests against elected officials as counterproductive. The hearing showcased the ongoing debate over immigration policies and the role of state and federal authorities in addressing these complex issues.