(WASHINGTON) -- The Democratic mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City on Wednesday pushed back against House Republicans' claims that they are harboring dangerous immigrants and violating immigration laws as so-called "sanctuary cities."
During a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams all defended their actions on immigration enforcement in their respective cities as Republicans on the committee accused them of increasing crime and impeding on law enforcement actions.
Chairman James Comer, a Republican, said these mayors lead towns that have policies that only create "sanctuary for criminals" and promised to hold them accountable for "their failure to follow the law and protect the American people." Comer and other Republicans on the committee suggested that the mayors should be doing more to cooperate with the Trump administration and its deportation efforts.
Sanctuary cities still enforce U.S. federal immigration laws, but the term often refers to a limited collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while enacting policies that are more favorable to undocumented people.
"As mayor, I do not control who enters or remains in our country, but I do have to manage the population that is within our city," said Adams, who said as New York City mayor he is working with the Trump administration on immigration aid. "In order to carry out this function without having long term negative ramification, I must create an atmosphere that allows every law-abiding resident, documented or not, to access vital services without fear of being turned over to federal authorities."
Wu said that the Trump administration is making "hard-working, tax-paying, God-fearing residents afraid to live their lives."
"A city that scared is not a city that's safe. A land ruled by fear is not the land of the free," Wu said.
Democrats immediately criticized the Trump administration, arguing the overreach of federal officials has led to unlawful detentions and created fear in communities.
"Let's be clear, the state and local laws that Republicans have issue with today are in full compliance with federal law. They do not obstruct ICE from carrying out its duties, and they are backed by evidence demonstrating that they keep people safe," Ranking Member Gerry Connolly said.
Wednesday's committee hearing comes as President Donald Trump's administration officials have ramped up their immigration enforcement efforts with Attorney General Pam Bondi shutting down federal grants to sanctuary cities and multiple threats from "border czar" Tom Homan toward these mayors if they refuse to comply.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference last month, Homan criticized Boston and its police commissioner, saying he'll be "bringing hell" to the city over its sanctuary city policy.
"Let's talk about Tom Homan," Wu said Wednesday. "Shame on him for lying about my city, for having the nerve to insult our police commissioner who has overseen the safest Boston's been in anyone's lifetime. Bring him here under oath, and let's ask him some questions."
The mayors pushed back heavily on assertions from Republicans that they are welcoming criminals into their cities, blaming the Trump administration for labeling immigrants as criminals and pushing misleading crime statistics.
"If you wanted to make us safe, pass gun reforms," Wu later added. "Stop cutting Medicaid. Stop cutting cancer research. Stop cutting funds for veterans. That is what will make our cities safe."
Many Republican lawmakers pointed to specific incidents in each of the mayor's cities about U.S. citizens getting injured or killed at the hands of undocumented people, attempting to dispel the mayors' arguments.
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan got in a contentious back-and-forth with Johnston involving a Venezuelan gang member who injured officers during an arrest. Due to the state's sanctuary city policy, police were forced to arrest the man in public rather than travel into the jail to detain him, something the Republicans criticized.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace had harsh words for the mayors, saying "you all have blood on your hands" over deaths and injuries at the hands of these undocumented people.
"All of the mayors here today are actively working to harm the American people you represent," Mace said. "You all have blood on your hands."
As the committee members accused the mayors of interfering with Trump's deportation efforts, the mayors continued to assert that they were in compliance with federal law.
However, Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna disputed the mayor's claims and argued that the sanctuary city policies were in violation of federal law, announcing she was going to send criminal referrals to the Justice Department.
"I do not think you guys are bad people, but I think that you are ideologically misled, which is why, unfortunately, based on your responses, I'm all going to be criminally referring you to the Department of Justice for investigation, and as soon as I leave here, these will be going over to Pam Bondi," Luna said.
"I'm not doing that ... [in] an effort to bully you guys, but I do believe that your policies are hurting the American people."