Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was among several mayors of sanctuary cities testifying before Congress in Washington D.C. Wednesday.
Johnson, along with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York Mayor Eric Adams, were questioned by the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform over their policies surrounding immigration and their respective city's sanctuary status, which prevents residents without documentation from being prosecuted solely for immigration reasons.
In Chicago, the Welcoming City Ordinance prohibits the disclosure of residency status of any person to any official unless required to do so by legal process. City benefits can also not be denied because of immigration status, and local law enforcement is restricted from participating in federal immigration enforcement actions, among other policies under the ordinance.
The committee's chairman, Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer, has said states and cities that do not comply with federal immigration agents should not receive federal funding. Chicago and Illinois both have laws on the books that limit local police officers' ability to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, laws which have become the subject of a lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department recently.
You can watch the entire hearing at the following links:
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Who is on the committee that questioned Johnson?
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The committee is made up of 26 Republicans and 21 Democrats, and some of the biggest names in both parties could participate in the hearing.
Among the Republicans is Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Colorado Rep. Lauren Bobert and South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace.
Democrats on the committee do include Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the lone member of Illinois’ Congressional delegation among the 47 lawmakers.
High-profile reps like Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Ranking Member Rep. Gerald Connolly are also included in the group.
