Several Democratic governors, including Minnesota’s Tim Walz, testified Thursday before the House Oversight Committee on issues related to sanctuary policies and illegal immigration. Walz, who previously ran as Kamala Harris’s running mate in the unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign, asserted that Minnesota is not officially a sanctuary state, emphasizing that no formal legislative or executive designation had been made. However, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) challenged that claim, pointing to Walz’s prior public comments and social media activity. Emmer cited a 2018 tweet in which Walz expressed support for limiting local law enforcement’s role in enforcing federal immigration laws, and a controversial 2024 commencement speech where Walz referred to ICE agents as “Donald Trump’s modern day Gestapo.”

Emmer condemned the ICE remark as inflammatory and dangerous, especially amid recent attacks on ICE officers in Los Angeles. “ICE agents are brave Americans,” he said, demanding that Walz apologize. Emmer also criticized Minnesota’s state policies under Walz that provide public benefits to undocumented immigrants, such as free healthcare, college tuition, and driver’s licenses. He argued that these measures, combined with restricted cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, effectively qualify Minnesota as a sanctuary state. Emmer’s sharp rebuke of Walz underscored the deep political divide over immigration enforcement, with Republicans framing such policies as undermining national security and Democrats defending them as efforts to protect immigrant communities.