Family members whose children were killed by illegal aliens in California are set to testify Tuesday before a congressional hearing examining the consequences of Democrat-backed sanctuary laws. The hearing, scheduled for September 15, will feature Elizabeth Carter and Anatoly Varfolomeev, both of whom lost a child in crashes involving illegal aliens in the state, according to Breitbart News.
Carterâs son was killed in a collision caused by an illegal alien truck driver who held a commercial driverâs license issued by California. Varfolomeevâs daughter, Anya Varfolomeev, was killed by an illegal alien drunk driver, also in California. Both are expected to describe the personal cost of policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Joining them will be Sheriff Frederick Akshar II of Broome County, New York, who is currently suing his state over its sanctuary laws. Aksharâs lawsuit challenges the legality of New Yorkâs policies that restrict state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement efforts. His testimony will bring a law enforcement perspective to the debate, highlighting the friction between state mandates and local officials who argue those mandates endanger public safety.
Californiaâs role in the debate
California has been a focal point in the national argument over sanctuary laws, with its policies often cited by critics as examples of the most far-reaching protections for illegal aliens. The two California cases cited in the hearing â both involving drivers who were in the country illegally â have become rallying points for advocates of stricter immigration enforcement. Carterâs son was killed by a truck driver who had obtained a CDL from California despite his immigration status; Varfolomeevâs daughter was killed by a drunk driver who was also in the country illegally.
The hearing is expected to examine how sanctuary policies â which generally prohibit local law enforcement from detaining individuals on behalf of federal immigration authorities or sharing information about their immigration status â may have contributed to these deaths. Critics argue that such policies shield criminal aliens from deportation and allow them to remain on the streets, sometimes with fatal consequences. Supporters of sanctuary laws counter that they foster trust between immigrant communities and local police, encouraging witnesses and victims to cooperate without fear of deportation.
Breitbart News is hosting a live stream of the hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15. The outlet noted that the event will focus on âthe cost of Democratsâ disastrous policies,â framing the testimony as a direct challenge to the sanctuary movement.
Political context
The hearing comes amid renewed national attention to immigration enforcement, with sanctuary jurisdictions repeatedly clashing with the Trump administration. Aksharâs lawsuit in New York is one of several legal challenges brought by local officials against state sanctuary laws. In recent years, similar suits have been filed in states like California and Illinois, with mixed results. Akshar, a Republican sheriff in a county that supported President Trump in recent elections, has argued that New Yorkâs sanctuary statute violates federal immigration law and puts his deputies in an impossible position.
Democrats have largely defended sanctuary policies, arguing that they are necessary to protect immigrant communities from overzealous federal enforcement. However, the testimony from Carter and Varfolomeev is designed to put a human face on the debate, reminding lawmakers and the public of the victims behind the policy fight. The hearing is likely to reignite tensions over immigration enforcement as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Viewers can watch the live stream on Breitbart News. The hearing is set to begin Tuesday morning.
Source: www.breitbart.com â https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/15/watch-live-angel-families-testify-on-sanctuary-laws/