Politics | March 25th, 2025

House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on Immigration Policies with Sanctuary City Mayors

By: Charrise Lane

On March 5, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing on immigration policies, bringing sanctuary city mayors into the spotlight. Among the mayors in attendance were Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and New York Mayor Eric Adams.

With tensions running high over border security and the impact of undocumented immigration, lawmakers questioned the sanctuary city mayors about their approaches to protecting undocumented immigrants. The hearing led to heated exchanges, setting the stage for a broader debate on immigration reform.

Undocumented Immigration Statistics

According to a letter from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales, as of July 2024, there were 662,566 non-citizens with criminal records listed on ICE’s national docket. This includes individuals currently in ICE custody and those on the non-detained docket.

Of these, 435,719 are convicted criminals, and 226,847 have pending criminal charges. The data revealed alarming figures, including 13,099 non-detained and 277 detained individuals convicted of homicide; 1,845 non-detained and 52 detained individuals with pending homicide charges; 15,811 non-detained and 509 detained individuals convicted of sexual assault; and 2,521 non-detained and 85 detained individuals convicted of kidnapping.

The issue of homicide involving undocumented immigrants gained further attention with the 2024 murders of 22-year-old Laken Riley and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, both of which were honored by President Trump in his address to Congress on March 4.

Sanctuary City Residents Speak Out

Zoe Marsh-Leigh and Danielle Carter-Walters, members of Flip Chicago Red, were present at the hearing. Both have been vocal critics of undocumented immigration and gained support online for their stance against Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Leigh, originally from Albany, New York, said her views on immigration changed after witnessing the placement of undocumented Venezuelan immigrants in Black neighborhoods in Chicago.

“At the time, you had over 25,000 illegal immigrants here,” Leah said. “Suddenly, in 2023, Mayor Johnson decided to put a shelter right in Hyde Park, across from Newport Condominiums, a historically Black building.”

Leigh described the conditions she observed after the immigrants were placed in the neighborhood, including drug activity, sex trafficking, and other concerns. “You are pushing all of us out of our communities to make room for the Venezuelans,” she added, accusing the city of misallocating funds meant to house immigrants.

Walters expressed frustration with the financial and social implications of undocumented immigration.

“They’re not paying any rent; they’re getting everything free. They’re putting them in our schools, bussing them to our schools. We have people fighting because their kids don’t even have bus service,” she said. Walters also criticized the health risks posed by the influx of undocumented immigrants, claiming that Chicago’s actions led to outbreaks of diseases like measles and tuberculosis.

Both Leigh and Walters expressed dissatisfaction with Mayor Johnson’s testimony, claiming he lied under oath about crime rates and the city’s reporting of illegal crime.

Perspectives from a Democrat

Political operative and moderate Democrat Jalen Elrod, who attended the hearing, criticized the proceedings as “political theater.” He argued that the hearing did little to address the real issue of immigration reform.

“Everybody was there to score political points for their constituents. No one was trying to address the dire issue of immigration reform and its necessity in the United States. I think it accomplished very little,” Elrod said.

Elrod, who identifies as a “moderate to conservative Democrat,” expressed support for some sanctuary city policies, understanding that these cities often lack the resources to enforce federal immigration laws. However, he also acknowledged the strain that these policies place on local budgets and services.

“I do understand the argument of sanctuary cities, that the federal government is not providing them with the resources to enforce immigration laws. It’s a strain on their budget and services. That’s why they won’t comply,” he said. Elrod emphasized that immigration is a federal issue, and state and local governments should not bear the responsibility for enforcement.