(The Center Square) – Four Democratic mayors are set to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday.
Many are expecting fireworks as the Republican-led committee digs into the cities’ immigration policies.
In January, Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Kentucky, sent letters to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu calling for them to testify regarding their cities’ sanctuary city immigration policies.
“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 said in the letters.
He added that those four cities stand out from the hundreds of sanctuary jurisdictions across the U.S. for their “abject failure to comply with federal law,” leading the “citizens of all four cities” to suffer.
The committee has also requested documents and information related to the sanctuary policies from each city.
This comes at a pivotal moment for immigration policy in the U.S., with the Trump administration promising large-scale deportations.
“Message for Sanctuary City Leaders: Follow the law or suffer the consequences,” Comer said Monday. “State and local governments that refuse to comply with federal immigration laws should not receive a penny of federal funding. President Trump and Congress are rightfully taking action.”
All four of the cities in question have received tens of thousands of illegal immigrants over the past few years, spending millions to accommodate them.
The mayors have had different responses to the Trump administration’s moves, with Adams taking some steps to cooperate, while Johnston laid out a city plan to refuse to “aid” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The tide is turning against sanctuary cities, though, with Republicans already introducing federal legislation that will address “dangerous” sanctuary state policies. Yet it won’t be enough for the mayors to try to distance themselves from the title of a “sanctuary city,” as some expect they might.
“Colorado Dems want it both ways: Push sanctuary state policies but not be called a sanctuary state,” said U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colorado, of rumors that Johnston will backtrack. “Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Colorado is a sanctuary state because Dems shield criminal immigrants from ICE.”
The committee hearing is set to begin at 10 a.m. EST on Wednesday.
