WASHINGTON (WBBM NEWSRADIO) —Republicans in Congress billed Wednesday's U.S. House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary city policies as a chance to hold Mayor Brandon Johnson and other Democratic leaders accountable for their city's approach to immigrants.
Johnson was among four mayors from large cities who took questions On Wednesday about protecting migrants above assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements.
In his opening statement, Committee Chair GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky called sanctuary city policies “public nightmares” that make American cities more dangerous.
“These policies only create sanctuary for criminals,” said Comer.
Johnson’s opening statement alluded to the misrepresentation of sanctuary cities like Chicago.
“I know there are myths about these laws, but we must not let mischaracterizations and fear mongering obscure the reality that Chicago’s crime rates are trending down. We still have a long way to go, but sensationalizing tragedy in the name of political expediency is not governing, it’s grandstanding,” Johnson said.
Throughout the morning, the mayor of Chicago has stood his ground, arguing that sanctuary policies make a city safer.
In his remarks to the House Oversight Committee, Mayor Johnson said the Trump Administration's mass deportation efforts were counterproductive.
Like the other mayors there from Boston, Denver, and New York, Johnson said an atmosphere of fear hangs over immigrant communities.
“Any actions that amplify fears of deportations make Chicago more dangerous. Those fears cause witnesses and victims to avoid cooperating with police,” Johnson said.
At one point in the hearing, Johnson faced questions from Republican Texas Congressman Scott Perry about Chicago being overwhelmed by the influx of migrants. Johnson said the abundance of migrant arrivals can be pinned to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his lack of coordination.
Perry did not find that as a valid excuse.
“You’re the mayor of Chicago. Do you think that your residents or the residents of your state should be paying for that more than they should be paying for their own needs, their own roads, their own public safety? Who elected you, the people that came illegally, whether they were sent to you or not, or the people who reside in Chicago?” asked Perry.
Under questioning, Johnson rejected assertions of Republican Congress members that the welcoming city ordinance prevents police from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“With a criminal warrant, our city and our state will cooperate with the federal government.”
All the mayors said the feds should get a warrant. Not all Congress members agreed.
“I wake up every single day, working hard to make sure that people of Chicago are safe. And we have a lot of work to do. No one's going to disagree with that, but we are heading in the right direction,” Johnson said to reporters following the hearing.
Violent crime continues to go down, you know, I don't take this stuff personal. I was elected to represent the people of Chicago.”
That's not clear when the mayor plans to return to Chicago.
Courts have repeatedly upheld the legality of most sanctuary laws.
But the Trump administration continues to target them and has sued Chicago and the State of Illinois as well as New York state over various immigration laws. They are also threatening to pull federal funding from these sanctuary cities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WBBM Newsradio for updates throughout the day.
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