Democratic mayors of large U.S. cities were put under intense interrogation in a House Oversight Committee hearing on immigration this week, where Republicans again assaulted sanctuary city policies. Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City mayors were called to Washington to stand up for their cities’ strategy towards undocumented immigrants, as Republicans accused their cities of not being safe because of weak immigration enforcement.
The hearing came on the heels of President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress, in which he boasted of his administration’s hardline approach to border control as the “most sweeping immigration crackdown in American history.” Republicans, echoing the rhetoric of the administration, cited sporadic instances of violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants as proof that sanctuary cities are a public safety risk.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) criticized sanctuary cities as making communities less safe and hampering federal immigration enforcement. “We cannot allow pro-criminal alien policies to continue putting American communities at risk,” Comer said, calling on local officials to obey federal immigration orders.
In reply, mayors contended that policies of sanctuary cities aim to keep local police resources committed to public safety, not enforcing federal immigration laws. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson came to the defense of his city’s policies, pointing out that the city’s homicide rate had just declined, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu contended that gun control regulations complement her city’s safety.
Despite their best efforts, Democratic mayors failed to provide concrete solutions during the hearing. They dodged much of the criticism, blamed Congress, and called for sweeping immigration reform. “Respectfully, you could pass bipartisan legislation,” Mayor Wu told Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), urging lawmakers to get beyond the “false narrative” that immigrants are criminals.
The hearing highlighted the stark divergence between Republicans and Democrats on immigration, with Democrats clamoring for a more open approach and Republicans for stricter enforcement. As the fight rages on, the fate of immigration reform remains in doubt, with each side entrenched. While some mayors pleaded for action by Congress, the prospect of a bipartisan immigration bill gaining approval shortly looks doubtful under existing politics.
