House to investigate sanctuary cities, calls four Democratic mayors to testify

The U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has launched an investigation into sanctuary jurisdictions and the impact of their policies on public safety and federal immigration enforcement.

Committee Chairman James Comer, R-KY, sent letters to the Democratic mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City requesting documents and communications related to their cities’ sanctuary policies. He also called on them to testify at a hearing scheduled for Feb. 11, saying “citizens of all four cities have suffered due to sanctuary policies.”

“In addition to the efforts of the Trump Administration to ensure federal immigration enforcement can proceed unimpeded, Congress must determine whether further legislation is necessary to enhance border security and public safety,” Comer said. “It is imperative that federal immigration law is enforced and that criminal aliens are swiftly removed from our communities.”

“Sanctuary jurisdictions and their misguided and obstructionist policies hinder the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrests and remove dangerous criminals from American communities, making Americans less safe,” Comer added. “Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City are sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement” deciding “what laws they will and will not abide by all for the purpose of shielding removable aliens, especially criminals, from federal law enforcement.”

There are hundreds of sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide, primarily in Democratic-controlled cities and states. America First Policy Legal published resources to assist residents to combat their local officials who implemented them. It also issued warnings to officials to comply with federal law or risk being personally sued, The Center Square reported.

Boston is a sanctuary jurisdiction under the Boston Trust Act, which the Boston City Council recently unanimously reaffirmed. Its mayor, Michelle Wu, has said the city won’t cooperate with federal enforcement efforts, The Center Square reported.

Chicago is a sanctuary jurisdiction under a local “Welcoming City Ordinance” and the Illinois Trust Act. The ordinance prevents local officials from arresting, detaining, or continuing to detain illegal foreign nationals subject to “an administrative warrant the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Crime Information Center database” or “immigration detainers.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also remains committed to Chicago’s sanctuary status as ICE raids began last week in the city.

Denver is a sanctuary jurisdiction under Colorado law. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston initially said he would go to jail to protect illegal border crossers from federal immigration authorities but later reversed his position. Crime escalated in Denver and surrounding areas as violent Venezuelan prison gang members took over after being released into the country by the Biden administration, The Center Square reported. TdA members are top targets for Trump administration deportation efforts.

Several New York City code provisions prohibit local law enforcement officials from honoring ICE immigration detainer or other requests. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order, which remains in effect, prohibiting state employees, including law enforcement officers, from disclosing information to federal immigration authorities.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has completely reversed his previous position of blaming Republicans to welcoming federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Throughout the border crisis, Democratic mayors nationwide called on the Biden administration to provide federal funding to compensate their cities for housing, feeding and providing a range of free social services to illegal border crossers at the taxpayer’s expense, The Center Square reported.