Four Democratic mayors said Wednesday that Congress and the Trump administration are exaggerating crime committed by immigrants and attacking "sanctuary cities" simply to score political points, as Republicans hammered the policies as shielding criminals and discouraging cooperation with federal officials. The comments were made at a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where Republicans accused the mayors of putting their cities in danger and undermining President Trump’s mass deportation efforts, the Los Angeles Times reports. Republicans have highlighted crimes committed by immigrants who crossed illegally into the U.S., with committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) opening the hearings by saying the policies “only create sanctuary for criminals.”
Mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver and Eric Adams of New York rejected that assertion and avoid using the term “sanctuary.” Johnson said, "We know there are myths about these laws. But we must not let mischaracterizations and fearmongering obscure the reality that Chicago’s crime rates are trending down.” Studies show that crime rates among undocumented immigrants are lower than among U.S. citizens. Adams noted that New York City does not violate immigration law or hinder enforcement. Denver’s Johnston said that crime decreased when the city was faced with an influx of immigrants, many bused from border states by Republican politicians. “If Denver can find a way to put aside our ideological differences long enough to manage a crisis we didn’t choose or create, it seems only fair to ask that the body that is actually charged with solving this national problem — this Congress — can finally commit to do the same,” he said. Republicans had released a nearly three-minute video previewing the hearing. It opens with images of the Constitution catching fire and burning, showing photos of the four mayors. It goes on to show arrests by ICE agents of people who’d committed crimes in those cities interspersed with news stories showing negative impacts of migration surges.
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