NYC, Boston, Chicago, and Denver Mayors to Testify before Congress on “Sanctuary Cities”

Background

New York City’s Eric Adams and mayors from three other major cities are set to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as Republicans take aim at "sanctuary cities," arguing that they impede the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda and protect people who are in the United States illegally.

The Hearing

Mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Mike Johnston of Denver will join Adams in the appearance before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The Republican Majority’s View

In an indication of what’s likely to come, the Republican majority last week released a nearly three-minute-long video previewing the hearing. It opens with images of the Constitution catching fire and burning, revealing photos of the four mayors. It goes on to show arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of people who’d committed crimes in those cities, interspersed with comments from the mayors and news stories showing negative impacts of migration surges.

The Committee Chair’s Warning

The video ends with the committee chair, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, threatening to cut the cities’ federal funding if they don’t cooperate with immigration enforcement.

What Are “Sanctuary Cities”?

There’s no strict definition for "sanctuary policies" or "sanctuary cities," but the terms generally describe limited cooperation with ICE. The agency enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide but often seeks state and local help to hold people who’ve been arrested or convicted of a crime until federal officers can take custody.

Challenges and Concerns

In communities that don’t cooperate, ICE agents go into communities to track down people after their release. ICE argues that this is dangerous and strains resources. Trump administration officials have also argued that if communities work with them on immigration enforcement, "collateral arrests" — when ICE detains people other than those targeted — are less likely.

Arguments on Both Sides

"Sanctuary cities want to keep locking us out of jails," President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, told reporters. "They force us into the neighborhood to find the bad guys. When we find the bad guy, many times they’re with others."

Counterarguments

But some cities and states say cooperating with ICE means victims and witnesses who are in the U.S. illegally won’t come forward. And, to varying degrees, officials argue that they want their localities to be welcoming places for immigrants.

Courts’ Ruling

Courts have repeatedly upheld the legality of most sanctuary laws.

Federal Suits

The Trump administration continues to target sanctuary cities and has sued Chicago and Illinois as well as New York state over various immigration laws.

Conclusion

What’s at Stake

The hearing will likely center on the role of sanctuary cities in the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda and the impact on communities. The mayors’ testimony will provide insight into the local perspective on the issue, and the hearing may shape the future of federal funding for these cities.

FAQs

• What is a "sanctuary city"?
  A "sanctuary city" is a city that has limited cooperation with ICE, which enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide.
• What is the purpose of the hearing?
  The hearing is intended to address the role of sanctuary cities in the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda and the impact on communities.
• What are the concerns of the mayors?
  The mayors are concerned that cooperating with ICE would lead to the detention of people who are in the U.S. illegally, potentially making their communities less safe and less welcoming to immigrants.