Mayors of Major Sanctuary Cities Called to Testify in Congress

The House Oversight Committee has summoned the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City to testify about their sanctuary city policies, which critics argue obstruct federal immigration enforcement and endanger public safety.

Chairman James Comer (R-KY) issued letters to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, requesting information about their sanctuary policies. The committee also invited the mayors to appear for a February 11 hearing to address these concerns.

Comer sharply criticized the cities' refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, describing their policies as “misguided and obstructionist.” In his letter, Comer accused sanctuary cities of taking it “upon themselves to decide what laws they will and will not abide by all for the purpose of shielding removable aliens, especially criminals, from federal law enforcement.”

According to the Oversight Committee, these cities have repeatedly failed to comply with federal law, making Americans less safe by allowing dangerous criminals to remain in communities.

The committee’s investigation comes amid growing concerns over the impact of sanctuary policies:

• Sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to honor ICE detainer requests, leading to the release of criminal illegal immigrants.

• Major cities like Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York have seen spikes in crime attributed to these policies.

• Federal law enforcement reports difficulty removing violent offenders due to non-cooperation from sanctuary cities.

The dangers of sanctuary policies are well-documented. During the Trump administration, thousands of illegal immigrants with violent criminal records including gang members, pedophiles, and individuals charged with heinous crimes like rape and murder were deported.

In Boston alone, federal authorities deported eight individuals last week, all of whom had committed serious crimes ranging from sexual assault to murder. Yet Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, like her counterparts in Chicago, Denver, and New York City, has remained defiant.

Wu previously stated she had no intention of cooperating with Trump’s deportation efforts, claiming such actions cause “widespread fear” and economic harm. But former Trump border czar Tom Homan has been blunt in his assessment of these leaders, stating, “What mayor or governor doesn’t want public safety threats out of their communities? That’s your number one responsibility, to protect your communities.”

Sanctuary cities exist in hundreds of jurisdictions across the United States, but Comer singled out Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City for their “abject failure to comply with federal law.” These cities have become symbols of resistance to federal immigration enforcement, drawing sharp criticism from Republicans and advocates of stricter border control.

The Oversight Committee’s investigation seeks to shed light on the real-world consequences of these policies, including their toll on public safety and law enforcement efforts. Comer’s actions align with broader Republican efforts to highlight immigration and border security as critical issues leading up to the 2024 election.

By calling these mayors to testify, Republicans are sending a clear message: sanctuary policies will no longer be shielded from scrutiny. As Chairman Comer stated, “These policies hinder the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrests and remove dangerous criminals from American communities.”

The hearing, set for February 11, promises to be a contentious showdown, with Democrats defending their policies as compassionate and necessary, while Republicans argue they put law-abiding Americans at risk.

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