After some initial hesitation, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has agreed to testify before Congress about Chicago’s “sanctuary city” policies and their effect on immigration enforcement.
Johnson will participate in the March 5 hearing of the Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He and three other big city mayors, all Democrats, had been asked to appear.
All four preside over so-called “sanctuary cities,” and the demand stems from an investigation into how local policies are affecting enforcement of President Donald Trump’s promise of “mass deportations.”
In a letter to Johnson received Jan. 28, committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) wrote:
“Sanctuary jurisdictions and their misguided and obstructionist policies hinder the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrests and remove dangerous criminals from American communities, making Americans less safe.”
During his weekly City Hall news conference earlier this week, Johnson said he had not yet made up his mind about whether or not to testify on Capitol Hill.
The mayor and Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry said they were coordinating with three other cities whose mayors were also asked to testify.
At the time, Johnson was asked why, if he believes so strongly in maintaining Chicago’s sanctuary city status, he doesn’t just show up at the hearing to defend it.
“This is not just simply about testimony. … If you look at the entire scope, there are documents that they’re asking for. There are other mayors they are asking to have these conversations with,” Johnson told reporters.
Johnson said he does not believe the hearing is “simply about sanctuary cities.” It’s about “our democracy,” he said.
“There are two positions: Do you support the Constitutional rights and equal protection under the law, or you do not,” the mayor said. “I know what the presentation looks like. But I think we’re all smart enough in this room and this country to draw deeper conclusions.”
Johnson said he’s “not going to be intimidated or afraid” just because Trump is “committed to working outside the bounds of the Constitution.”
He urged his fellow Democrats at the national level to be bolder in their opposition to Trump.
“Democrats are right. But now it’s time for us to demonstrate how what we do substantially improves the quality of life for people,” Johson said.
“What we have to do is be far more proactive and dare to be bold and audacious and not just this obsequious type of response where we are responding as if we are in servitude to this administration. Proactive. Organize. Tell the story of the people.”
Last week, Johnson said he had referred the letter to Richardson-Lowry.
“It would be premature to talk about going until such time that we’ve properly digested all of the legal issues as well as other substantive aspects of the communication from the oversight committee,” Richardson-Lowry had said then.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams also were asked to testify.
“We thank Committee members for the upcoming conversation on this important issue, and for the opportunity for Mayor Johnson to represent Chicago alongside Mayors from Boston, Denver, and New York,” the mayor’s office said in a statement issued Wednesday.