GOP lawmakers target sanctuary city mayors in contentious hearing

From left, Denver Mayor Michael Johnston, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, are sworn in during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on sanctuary cities’ policies at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in Washington. Alex Wong/Getty/TNS

As the Trump administration continues its crackdown on criminal migrants, there appears to be a crackdown as well on American cities which GOP lawmakers argued are standing in the way.

They have pointed to examples like Chicago, where the recent murder of a 63-year-old man shocked his community. The Chicago businessman and interior designer, George Levin, was found in his basement with his arms tied with duct tape and his legs bound with an extension cord.

The two suspects were both undocumented immigrants: 29-year-old Jefferson Ubilla-Delgado is from Venezuela and 21-year-old Geiderwuin Bello Morales is from Ecuador.

Morales though, had been arrested just weeks before for trying to lure a 13-year-old girl to his car.

“ICE lodged a detainer against the criminal alien, authorities released him back into the street,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky.

He suggested it was one on a long list of examples of how sanctuary city policies make communities less safe since most prohibit local law enforcement from communicating with or assisting federal immigration authorities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In another example in Denver, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, argued the policies resulted in an ICE officer being assaulted in the parking lot because he was not able to detain a suspect inside the jail, referring to Abraham Gonzales, an alleged Venezuelan gang member.

“The safest thing to do is to say ICE we’ve got him in custody, come here we’re releasing him. We held him 345 days, we can’t hold him a second longer. We can’t wait for you to come inside the building, we got to let him go so you have to arrest him in the parking lot,” Jordan said.

Sanctuary laws are in place in several cities around the country and have become top locations for buses filled with migrants to be brought.

The mayors of four of the largest ones — Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York — defended their city’s laws that require them to provide care.

“The question Denver faced was what will you do with a mom and two kids dropped on the streets of our city with no warm clothes, no food, and no place to stay,” said Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston of Denver.

All four mayors touted massive decreases in homicides and violent crime in their cities and said those laws are a contributing factor.

“Any actions that amplify fears of deportations make Chicago more dangerous. Those fears cause witnesses and victims to avoid cooperating with police,” said Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago.

Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston said her constituents have been living with a newfound fear and frustration, under the new Trump administration policies.

“I spoke with pastors whose pews are half empty on Sundays; doctors whose patients are missing appointments, teachers whose students are missing class,” she said.

“A city that’s scared is not a city that’s safe,” she added.

Both GOP lawmakers as well as President Donald Trump have threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities and Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a Justice Department memo saying she’s pausing funding. But the cities could be far more hurt if the U.S. Transportation Department goes forward with a similar threat, which would block funds for roads bridges airports, and public transit systems.

Have a news tip? Contact Kristine Frazao at [e-mail] or at x.com/kristinefrazao.