Boston’s Wu among 4 mayors grilled on immigration, public safety on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was among four Democratic mayors grilled by lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday regarding so-called sanctuary city policies during a congressional hearing that turned heated at times.

Wu, who took her newborn baby, Mira, to the hearing, took rapid-fire questions from Congress while defending Boston’s sanctuary city policies.

“We are going to continue to keep our policies in place,” Wu said when questioned by New York Congressman Nick Langworthy, while calling Boston “the safest city in the country.”

Testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform alongside Wu were Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston of Denver, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

The mayors were grilled for hours. Some lawmakers accused the mayors of harboring illegal immigrants who are accused of violent crimes and ignoring immigration detainers lodged by ICE in their respective cities.

“You all have blood on your hands,” Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, said to the mayors during an intense question-and-answer session.

So-called sanctuary city policies are a “public nightmare” that make American cities more dangerous, Rep. James Comer said Wednesday in opening the Congressional hearing with mayors from four major cities that the Trump administration says are hindering its immigration agenda and protecting people who are in the United States illegally.

“These policies only create sanctuary for criminals,” said Comer, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

At one point, a shouting match erupted between Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Kentucky Republican Congressman James Comer.

• Watch live: Mayor Michelle Wu testifying before Congress on Boston’s sanctuary city policies

When Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, asked Wu how much Boston has spent on services for illegal immigrants, Wu said she did not know.

“We do not ask about immigration status. We do not have a number,” Wu said.

In a statement later Wednesday, MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale blasted Wu, who “was unable to provide basic data on how many illegal immigrants have entered Boston over the past four years or how much taxpayer money is being spent on individuals who are in the country unlawfully.”

“Mayor Wu’s refusal to disclose the financial burden her policies place on Boston residents is unacceptable,” said Carnevale. “Taxpayers deserve to know how much of their money is being diverted away from vital services from lifelong Bostonians to fund sanctuary city policies that encourage illegal immigration. Instead, Wu admitted that the city doesn’t even track how much is being spent on illegal immigrants.”

The City of Boston reportedly spent $650,000 preparing Wu for her testimony, “raising further concerns about how much has already been spent trying to obscure the full financial impact of her policies,” Carnevale said.

During her testimony, Mayor Wu repeatedly said that Boston does not ask about immigration status when distributing city resources. She also said her sanctuary policies make Boston safer.

Here are some highlights from the hearing:

‘Continue to keep our policies in place,’ Wu says of Boston’s sanctuary city status

Congressman Nick Langworthy, a New York Republican, asked Wu if she’s considered removing the “sanctuary city” status for the city of Boston.

“We are going to continue to keep our policies in place,” Wu answered, calling Boston “the safest city in the country.”

A moment earlier, Langworthy asked Wu if someone who demonstrates a willingness to harm society should be detained, Wu said, “If you commit crimes against the people of Boston, you will be prosecuted.”

‘Are you out of your mind?’ Florida congressman says to Wu

Wu was again questioned about Boston’s spending on services for illegal immigrants. Congressman Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, asked Wu how much the city spends on these services.

“We don’t ask about immigration status,” Wu replied.

“You don’t ask about how much money the City of Boston has spent on illegal immigration? Are you out of your mind? Do you manage your budget or not, Mayor Wu?” Donalds asked.

“I manage my budget. I have a AAA bond rating,” Wu said.

Then, Wu said, “The City of Boston is sick of having people outside of Boston telling us what to do.”

‘You all have blood on your hands,’ Mace says to Wu, mayors

Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, began her rapid-fire questioning to the mayors with this: “You all have blood on your hands.”

Mace asked Wu whether breaking into the United States illegally is a crime.

“Yes,” Wu said.

“When an illegal alien rapes a woman, do you believe you are on the right side of history,” Mace then asked the mayors individually.

“No. Rape is obviously horrible,” Wu said.

Mace said, “Then why are you letting rapists back onto the streets of Boston?”

“That is not true,” Wu said. “We investigate arrests and prosecute.”

“Would your city honor an ICE detainer for an illegal (immigrant) who rapes kids?” Mace then asked.

“A criminal warrant we will enforce,” Wu said.

“Are you willing to go to jail for violating federal law,” Mace asked Wu.

“We are not violating federal law,” Wu said.

In one of her final questions, Mace asked Wu: “Do you believe that ICE arresting a child rapist threatens everyone’s safety?”

“No,” Wu replied.

Mace then held up a piece of paper with a previous statement quoted by Wu as saying: “(ICE) efforts ‘actually threaten the safety of everyone,’” the quote from Wu read on the paper.

“You’re a hypocrite. Thank you very much,” Mace concluded.

‘Undermining the trust’ would make Boston less safe, Wu says

Congressman Summer Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat, asked Wu about the repercussions about the administrations immigration policies.

“The laws are most important and the safety of our residents are most important,” Wu said.

Wu said from what she hears from constituents, “Undermining the trust is what would make our city less safe,” which for example, may include some residents being deterred from calling 911.

‘You mayors have responsibility,’ Louisiana congressman says

Congressman Clay Higgins, a Republican from Louisiana, asked Wu and other mayors if they had received legal counsel before Wednesday’s hearing.

“Yes,” Wu answered.

“Everyone of them is lawyered up,” Higgins then said.

Higgins, a former police officer, then pointed to a large photograph of a young married father who was killed by an illegal immigrant in Texas.

“The policies of these mayors and the previous president have consequences, they have real life consequences,” Higgins said in addressing Wu and the other mayors.

“You mayors have responsibility, not just to your communities and to the people you want to serve, but to the entire republic,” Higgins said. He accused Wu and the mayors of not cooperating with ICE officers who are trying to arrest criminal illegal immigrants.

“We’ve had enough. America is fed up with this betrayal of oath and you’ll be held accountable,” Higgins said.

‘You violated your oath,’ congressman tells Wu and other mayors

Congressman Gary Palmer, an Alabama Republican, asked Wu and other mayors whether they know about the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law when the two conflict.

“You understand that the laws of the U.S. take precedent over the laws of states and your cities?” Palmer told the mayors, pointing out Boston to Wu during his questioning.

“When you declared your cities sanctuary cities, you did so illegally,” Palmer continued, adding, “You violated your oath.”

“You have violated your oath of office. You have committed a crime. Mr. Chairman, I don’t know why we’re not discussing obstruction of justice,” Palmer said.

‘We do not have a number,’ Wu says

When Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, asked Wu how much Boston has spent on services for illegal immigrants, Wu said she did not know.

“We do not ask about immigration status. We do not have a number,” Wu said.

Foxx then asked whether non-governmental organizations provide services to illegal immigrants in Boston.

“There are community organizations, many of them in Boston, who seek to serve all of our Boston residents,” Wu replied.

Wu says Boston isn’t required to follow federal laws in conflict with state and local laws

“You’re disgracing a legal immigration system for immigrants who came here the right way,” Congressman Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, told Wu and other mayors during the hearing. He also called their sanctuary city policies “a disorganized process.”

“We follow all state, city and federal laws in Boston,” Wu said when questioned by Gosar. “The Constitution, as I understand it, doesn’t require cities or police officers to follow federal laws in conflict with state and local laws.”

“The false narrative is that immigrants in general are criminals,” Wu added.

Mayor Wu says Boston is the safest major city in the nation

In delivering her opening statements, Wu called Boston the “safest major city” in America.

She also said that “Massachusetts State law and the Boston Trust Act make clear that immigration is federal law enforcement’s responsibility.”

Mayor Wu calls out President Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan

“Shame on him,” Wu said of Homan, adding that he “lies” about Boston.

Homan recently said, “I’m coming to Boston and I’m bringing hell with me,” after reading about Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox’s unwillingness to help ICE.

New York’s mayor stresses separation of powers ahead of congressional testimony

Eric Adams stressed the importance of separation of powers ahead of the hearing. He said city lawmakers limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs and Enforcement but allow collaboration on serious criminal matters.

“The law is very clear in New York City that we are not allowed to collaborate with federal authorities -- with ICE -- on civil enforcement. That is the law. But I also want to share with the congressional leadership here how we collaborate every day with our federal partners at going after those who are dangerous in our city,” Adams told reporters.

Democrats rally support for immigrants ahead of ‘sanctuary cities’ hearing

Democrats meanwhile are showing support. Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois spoke ahead of the hearing about the economic contributions of immigrants in Illinois and Chicago. She said it would be illegal to withhold federal funds from cities that limit their cooperation with immigration enforcement.

“Our communities will not be bullied into compliance with their illegal unconstitutional authoritarian agenda,” she said.

NYC mayor sends a nuanced message on ‘sanctuary cities’ ahead of hearing

In a New York Post op-ed published Tuesday night, New York Mayor Eric Adams said the nation’s most populous city does and will comply with federal immigration laws, and denied that “sanctuary” policies make it a haven for violent criminals.

Immigrants who are in the country illegally, yet are otherwise are law-abiding pay taxes and do needed work, the Democrat noted.

New York City will suffer if these people stay in the shadows for fear of being deported, he said.

“I cannot have a city where parents are afraid to send their children to school,” or where immigrants won’t report crimes and delay seeking medical care until they end up in emergency rooms, he wrote.

Wednesday’s hearings came hours after Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, focusing often on immigration and people living illegally in the U.S.

“We are getting them out and getting them out fast,” Trump said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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