Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida told four mayors of so-called “sanctuary cities” she would be referring them to Attorney General Pam Bondi for potential prosecution Wednesday.
Democratic Mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver and Eric Adams of New York City testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in a hearing focusing on cities that refuse to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After questioning the mayors about their efforts to support migrants who entered the United States illegally, Luna informed them of her intention to request a criminal probe.
“After this line of questioning it’s very clear, that these policies, that you will have all implicated are active and alive and well in your cities, are in direct violation with US Title 8 code, subsection 1324 and is a federal offense,” Luna told the mayors. “But you all speak about a broken immigration system, and yet here you guys are aiding and abetting in that entire process. I want to be very clear about something open border policies, which is something that you guys are talking about hurts people on both sides, including the people that are coming here illegally and then American citizens as well.”
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“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 continued. “I’m not doing that in an effort to bully you guys, but I do believe that your policies are hurting the American people and you can make that known with that evidence that you could present the Department of Justice. But if you guys continue doing what you’re doing you’re not going to help anyone, you’re going to hurt more people and that’s exactly why I’m tired of it. The American people are tired of it.”
The House Oversight Committee announced probes into Boston, Denver, Chicago and New York City over their so-called “sanctuary” policies in January.
ICE has captured other sex offenders released by Massachusetts authorities despite the agency requesting they be detained for deportation in the past. In June 2024, ICE agents arrested a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala who had been released on bail after being charged with raping a child in Bristol County and took an illegal immigrant from the Cape Verde Islands repeatedly convicted on public lewdness charges into custody in April 2024.
Johnston suggested in a Nov. 21 interview with the Denverite that local law enforcement and citizens of Denver could resist efforts by the Trump administration to deport illegal immigrants. Tom Homan, then President-elect Donald Trump’s designee to serve as border czar, referenced 8 USC 1324 (iii), noting Johnston was willing to commit a felony during a Nov. 25 Fox News appearance.
Adams appeared with Trump administration border czar Tom Homan on “Fox and Friends” on Feb. 14, where they announced that U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement would operate at Riker’s Island. Over 200,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since 2022, The New York Times reported, prompting Adams to announce a number of budget cuts in November 2023, including closing libraries on Sundays and freezing hiring for the New York Police Department as part of the efforts to address the costs of housing migrants arriving in the city.
Featured Image Credit: Anna Paulina Luna
