Democratic governor Walz draws fire over ‘Gestapo’ crack in House hearing over ‘sanctuary states’: Live updates

Three Democratic governors testified before Congress on Thursday about their states’ immigration policies, as protests against the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts sweep the country.

Governors Tim Walz of Minnesota, Kathy Hochul of New York, and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois were called to appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform long before the clashes in downtown Los Angeles began last week.

Walz drew fire from a number of Republicans on the panel for comparing ICE to President Donald Trump’s “modern-day Gestapo.”

“You realize how disgusting a phrase that is, considering the history of Nazi Germany? Would you like to recant that statement?” said GOP Rep. Byron Donalds.

“What I said, Congressman, and I have a long history of supporting law enforcement, I said President Trump was using them as his modern day Gestapo — not identifying who you are, coming up in unmarked bands, taking people away,” Walz responded.

The protests against workplace immigration raids escalated after Trump called in the National Guard and the Marines.

House Republicans worked to put down Democrats over immigration policies that the GOP argues protect criminals.