In Face of GOP Criticism, Democrat Mayors Defend Sanctuary City Policies at House Panel Hearing

Congressional Republicans sharply questioned four “sanctuary city” mayors on immigration policy at a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday, but Democrats continued to insist that mayors need not cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement on deportations of illegal immigrants.

Testifying at the hearing were Democratic Mayors Eric Adams of New York, Mike Johnston of Denver, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Michelle Wu of Boston.

Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., opened the hearing with harsh criticism of Democratic sanctuary city policies—which relieve local law enforcement of their responsibilities to work with ICE and the federal government on apprehending illegal immigrants.

“Let’s be clear, these policies only create sanctuary for criminals,” said Comer. “Sanctuary policies violate federal immigration law by protecting criminal aliens at the expense of the American people.”

But Democrats consistently minimized the threats posed by illegal immigration.

Ranking member Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said that local police forces should not have to cooperate on deportation efforts, and blasted border czar Tom Homan for his work in Boston.

 “I don’t know that Boston welcomes Mr. Homan or anyone else bringing ‘hell’ to the city,” Connolly said, citing the border czar’s characterization of his intentions. “The Republican crusade against local independence doesn’t just undermine public safety in our communities, it is blatantly cruel, and I say inhumane and un-American,” Connolly said.

Chicago’s Johnson went all in on supporting his “welcoming city” policy of not pursuing deportations.

“Put simply, any actions that amplify fears of deportations make Chicago more dangerous. Those fears cause witnesses and victims to avoid cooperating with the police,” Johnson said.

Boston’s Wu, who has recently faced controversy for extending her sympathies to the family of a knife-wielding attacker fatally shot by police in her city, likewise defended her city’s policies toward illegal immigrants.

“This federal administration is making hardworking, taxpaying, God-fearing residents afraid to live their lives. A city that’s scared is not a city that’s safe,” said Wu in defense of Boston’s lax immigration policies.

Republicans hammered the Democratic mayors, accusing them of violating the Constitution and abetting illegal activity.

Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., harshly criticized Denver’s Johnston, saying, “You gave sanctuary to people who were here illegally. You violated your oath to uphold the Constitution. Because of the Supremacy Clause, the laws of the United States take preference.”

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., also demanded that the mayors tell her how much they have spent on illegal immigrants.

Johnson replied that Chicago had spent 1% of its budget over four years. Johnston said Denver spent $79 million in the past two-and-a-half years. Adams said New York had spent “approximately $6.9 billion” in the past four years. 

Wu, however, informed Foxx that she could not offer a figure, since the city does not ask about immigration status.

When the hearing reached a halfway-point recess, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., challenged claims made by Democrats and by witness David Bier at the hearing that illegal immigrants have a lower crime rate than American citizens in an interview with The Daily Signal.

“I find that very interesting, because we know that Chicago is one of the bloodiest cities in the country,” said Luna.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., also rejected the argument in an interview.

“I find it offensive that … they try to infer that Americans are committing more crimes than illegals,” said Burchett. 

“That doesn’t matter if your kids are the ones that got raped and murdered, and you could have stopped that. It’s not like somebody takes a number down at the ‘murder and rape store’ and gets in line. You eliminate that person.”

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