Democratic Mayors Clash with Republicans Over Sanctuary Cities in Heated Congressional Hearing
In a fiery congressional hearing on Wednesday, Democratic mayors from four major U.S. cities defended their immigration policies against Republican accusations that sanctuary city policies create a safe haven for criminals. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hosted the hearing, where Republican lawmakers aggressively criticized sanctuary policies, while Democratic mayors pushed back, arguing that the Trump administration was using crime and immigration as political weapons.
Republicans Claim Sanctuary Cities Harbor Criminals
Republican leaders opened the hearing by pointing to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, arguing that sanctuary policies limit local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) accused sanctuary cities of “creating a sanctuary for criminals” and undermining efforts to curb illegal immigration.
A video released by the Republican majority previewed the hearing, depicting the U.S. Constitution burning away to reveal images of the four Democratic mayors—Michelle Wu (Boston), Brandon Johnson (Chicago), Mike Johnston (Denver), and Eric Adams (New York). The video also featured footage of ICE arrests and clips of mayors speaking about migration surges, ending with a warning from Comer that cities refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement could face cuts in federal funding.
Democratic Mayors Defend Their Policies
The mayors strongly refuted the allegations, contending that their policies do not obstruct immigration enforcement but instead foster trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, addressed misconceptions about sanctuary policies, emphasizing that crime rates in his city were actually declining.
“We know there are myths about these laws,” Johnson said. “But we must not let mischaracterizations and fear-mongering obscure the reality that Chicago’s crime rates are trending down.”
New York Mayor Eric Adams also defended his city’s stance, insisting that New York complies with all federal, state, and city laws. “New York City will always comply with city, state, and federal laws as it does now,” Adams stated. Despite his defense, Adams received mixed responses, with Rep. Comer thanking him for working with ICE while Democratic lawmakers questioned his dealings with the Trump administration.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) confronted Adams over allegations that his cooperation with ICE was a strategy to avoid federal corruption charges. Adams denied any wrongdoing, stating, “There’s no deal, no quid pro quo. And I did nothing wrong.”
Crime Rates and Immigration: The Data Dispute
One of the major arguments in favor of sanctuary city policies is that they improve public safety by encouraging trust in local law enforcement. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston stated that crime in his city actually decreased despite an influx of migrants, many of whom were sent by Republican governors in border states.
“If Denver can find a way to put aside our ideological differences long enough to manage a crisis we didn’t choose or create, it seems only fair to ask that the body that is actually charged with solving this national problem—this Congress—can finally commit to do the same,” Johnston remarked.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu echoed this sentiment, arguing that federal immigration enforcement policies were undermining trust between communities and law enforcement. Wu, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, spoke directly to immigrant communities, saying, “You belong here. This is your home.”
The Political Battle Over Immigration Enforcement
Republicans, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), aggressively challenged the mayors, particularly targeting Johnston over an incident in which ICE agents had to apprehend a recently released criminal suspect in Denver. Jordan accused Johnston of misleading the committee by claiming Denver was safer. “That’s a lie because it was not safer for the ICE agents who are part of your community,” Jordan stated.
Trump administration officials argue that sanctuary policies force ICE agents to conduct “collateral arrests,” where undocumented immigrants without criminal records are detained alongside targeted individuals. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, criticized cities that restrict cooperation with ICE, stating, “Sanctuary cities want to keep locking us out of jails. They force us into the neighborhood to find the bad guys. When we find the bad guy, many times they’re with others.”
The Push for Immigration Reform
Despite the tense exchanges, the mayors largely agreed on one thing: the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level. They argued that local governments should not be forced to bear the burden of an immigration system that Congress has failed to fix.
“Immigration laws are a federal responsibility,” Johnston said. “The attempt to put that responsibility on local law enforcement simply makes communities distrust the police and others they may need to call for help.”
The Trump administration has taken legal action against sanctuary jurisdictions, including lawsuits against Chicago, Illinois, and New York State over their immigration policies. Meanwhile, Democratic mayors continue to defend their approach, saying that their primary concern is protecting public safety and maintaining community trust.
As immigration remains a divisive issue in the U.S., this latest congressional hearing underscores the deep political divide over sanctuary policies and how local governments should handle undocumented immigrants.
