House Republicans are urging sanctuary city mayors to testify next month regarding the implications of their policies on public safety and their non-cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-Tenn., who chairs the GOP-controlled House Committee on Oversight and Reform, has announced an investigation into sanctuary cities nationwide to assess their compliance with federal immigration laws.
In a formal letter, Comer requested documentation and information from Michelle Wu (Boston), Brandon Johnson (Chicago), Mike Johnston (Denver), and Eric Adams (New York City) concerning each city’s sanctuary policies.
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The mayors have been invited to testify at a public hearing scheduled for February 11. Fox News Digital has reached out to each mayor for comment.
“On his first day in office, President Donald Trump took decisive actions to restore the rule of law,” Comer stated on X. “It is now imperative that our immigration laws are enforced across the country and that criminal aliens are swiftly removed from our communities.”
According to the letters, twelve states and numerous cities and counties across the U.S. have adopted sanctuary policies. However, Comer highlighted that the four cities in question exemplify a “failure to comply with federal law.”
Sanctuary cities restrict collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Advocates argue that immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility. Critics contend that these policies protect criminals and those illegally residing in the country, thereby jeopardizing public safety.
Mayor Eric Adams has voiced concerns about criminal illegal immigrants, stating they pose a risk to New Yorkers. He has expressed a willingness to collaborate with Trump Border Czar Tom Homan. “Mayor Adams has made clear that New York City is committed to working with our federal partners to fix our broken immigration system and focus on the small number of people who are entering our localities and committing violent crimes,” his office informed Fox News Digital. “We will review the letter and respond accordingly.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has publicly declared that her city will not cooperate with Trump’s mass deportation initiatives, despite the release of illegal immigrants with criminal charges back into the community. “Elections have consequences, and the federal government is responsible for a certain set of actions, and cities, no individual city, can reverse or override some parts of that,” she explained to WCVB-TV in November. “But what we can do is ensure that we are doing our part to protect our residents in every possible way, that we are not cooperating with those efforts that threaten the safety of everyone by causing widespread fear and having large-scale economic impact.”
A spokesperson for the City of Boston stated: “We are proud that Boston is the safest major city in the United States. We have received the letter and are reviewing it.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has reaffirmed his support for the city’s sanctuary policies. “I find it unconscionable that this administration would attempt to create not just division but fear within our public schools,” Johnson remarked, referencing potential federal raids.
He has instructed city departments to “stand firm and uphold the local ordinance” in accordance with the Illinois Trust Act, which bars local law enforcement from aiding federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has also backed sanctuary policies, even in light of recent gang activity attributed to members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Denver and the nearby suburb of Aurora. On Sunday, federal agents arrested 50 gang members in Colorado, seizing drugs, weapons, and cash.
In the early days of his return to the White House, Trump has rescinded various directives and focused on targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records through a series of raids.
Reports indicate that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted raids in Colorado, New York City, Buffalo, Boston, California, and Minnesota, resulting in the detention of hundreds of illegal immigrants. Additionally, deportation flights have commenced.