(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mayor Brandon Johnson is addressing federal immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago.
He says the city will adhere to local law.
“The Welcoming City Ordinance is a law and it is the law of the land here in Chicago. We will uphold it along with the complementary Illinois Trust Act to ensure that our immigrant communities are safe,” Johnson said.
“Furthermore, we intend to continue to empower all of our communities throughout our city with crucial information and resources at this time.”
Johnson says Chicago will remain a Sanctuary City despite any efforts by the White House to overturn the status.
“Regardless of who's in the White House, Chicago is a city that opens its arms to people from around the globe. We will continue to protect civil and human rights, and we welcome all individuals and families who want to work, live, and thrive here in our beloved city.
Johnson and mayors of other sanctuary cities have been asked to testify before a Congressional committee on Feb. 11.
The chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent the letter on Monday asking Johnson and fellow democratic mayors of New York, Boston and Denver to share documents and information about their Sanctuary City policies.
Republican Chair James Comer wrote in a letter to the democratic mayors sanctuary jurisdictions “take it upon themselves to decide what laws they will and will not abide by all for the purpose of shielding removable aliens, especially criminals, from federal law enforcement.” The committee also asked Mayor Johnson to share documents and information related to Chicago’s sanctuary policies.
Republican Chair James Comer called the jurisdictions “misguided and obstructionist” for failing to work with federal immigration officials.
In his letter, he wrote mayors sanctuary jurisdictions “take it upon themselves to decide what laws they will and will not abide by all for the purpose of shielding removable aliens, especially criminals, from federal law enforcement.”
Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance has been on the books for more than a dozen years.
The lone representative from Illinois on the committee is Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Meantime in Springfield, Illinois Senate Republicans are taking shots at Governor Pritzker over the Welcoming City Ordinance.
State Senator Neil Anderson (R-47th) says the governor's got it all wrong.
“This is essentially a law that says law enforcement is not able to communicate with law enforcement to enforce the law.
“Gov. Pritzker knows the truth. He's insulting your intelligence, hoping that you won't notice that his policies are protecting criminals and not the families of Illinois. It's time to hold him accountable.”
WBBM’s Nancy Harty and Dave Dahl contributed to this report.
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