WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Mayors of major cities testified on Capitol Hill about their so-called “sanctuary city” policies that generally limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Republicans say these policies hurt public safety while Democrats and the mayors defended their cities.
Republicans say sanctuary city policies have deadly consequences.
Mayors of some of those cities pushed back Wednesday, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“Sensationalizing tragedy in the name of political expediency is not governing, it’s grandstanding,” he said.
Johnson and mayors from New York, Denver and Boston testified that their sanctuary city policies do not make people less safe.
Denver’s Mayor Mike Johnston says the opposite has happened.
“That is correct. Crime is down in Denver. Homicides down 17%,” he said.
Republicans say sanctuary policies protect criminals and undermine the president’s priorities.
“Sanctuary cities make us all less safe and are a public safety nightmare,” said Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, pressed Johnston about a policy that she says hinders local police cooperation with federal authorities when there’s not a warrant.
“Because you don’t know if they’re illegal because you’re unable to coordinate until there’s a warrant. So that’s why this ordinance needs to be repealed,” Boebert said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has previously said he’s willing to work with ICE.
“New York City will always comply with city, state and federal laws,” he said.
Adams denied that his cooperation is an attempt to avoid federal corruption charges.
Read: Read More