In a recent spectacle before members of Congress, the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City – staunch defenders of their sanctuary city policies – vehemently denied any insinuation that they might be harboring illegal alien criminals and attempted to defend their sanctuary city policies. The mayors, all Democrats who were put on the hot seat by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee

The mayors who testified included the mayors of New York (Eric Adams), Denver (Mike Johnson), Chicago (Brandon Johnson) and Boston (Michelle Wu).

When pressed about a specific case involving a Venezuelan gang member, Mayor Mike Johnston admitted that Denver had the individual in custody for 345 days but provided ICE with only a one-hour notice before release. This forced federal agents to apprehend the suspect in a public parking lot, unnecessarily endangering their safety.

Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) highlighted the staggering sums these cities have spent on the “migrant” crisis. Denver has shelled out $79 million since 2022, Chicago’s expenses hover around $166 million, and New York City leads the pack with a jaw-dropping $6.9 billion. Yet, these mayors continue to assert that their policies are fiscally sound and beneficial to their constituents.

When confronted with the consequences of their policies, the mayors deftly shifted responsibility. Boston Mayor and Democrat Michelle Wu called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, implying that the real issue lies with federal inaction rather than local policies that potentially shield criminals.

Wu also whined about her city having to shell out over $650K for an external law firm to handle legal work tied to the Congressional hearing. Funny how that works. If you’re not “guilty” of what you’re being accused of, why do you need to drain the taxpayers’ wallets on a pricey defense?

The recent congressional hearing showcased a masterclass in political deflection. While sanctuary city mayors staunchly defend their policies as pillars of public safety and fiscal responsibility, the evidence suggests a far less flattering reality.