Dems Face Challenges in Countering GOP Critiques on Immigration, Both in Congress and at the Border

Democratic mayors were summoned to Washington on Wednesday to address their responses to the immigration crisis, facing Republican accusations that their cities are plagued by violent crime and require intervention from the GOP administration.

This confrontation marked the peak of months of unrelenting criticism from President Donald Trump and his supporters, setting the stage for additional actions by the administration — including Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the southern border later that day — aimed at keeping Democrats on the defensive regarding immigration.

Members of the House Oversight Committee interrogated the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City, following Trump’s emphatic comments in his address to Congress the previous evening, where he declared that his administration had initiated “the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history.”

In line with the administration's rhetoric, Republicans in Congress highlighted specific incidents of violence involving undocumented immigrants to bolster their argument that sanctuary cities should permit federal authorities to take over local law enforcement — a claim the mayors refuted by stating there is no legal obligation for local officials to coordinate with U.S. immigration authorities.

“Sanctuary cities make us all less safe and are a public safety nightmare,” said House Oversight Chair James Comer. “We cannot let pro-criminal alien policies [and] obstructionist sanctuary cities continue to endanger American communities and the safety of federal immigration enforcement officers.”

Democrats countered with complex legal arguments about where the jurisdiction and responsibility for immigration enforcement exist.

“The welcoming city ordinance is pretty straightforward — it allows for our local law enforcement to focus on local policies,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, addressing his city’s sanctuary policies that protect undocumented individuals.

The mayors also dismissed the Republican assertion that their cities were unsafe due to sanctuary policies. Johnson noted that Chicago’s homicide rate was at a recent low, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu maintained that her city was among the safest in the nation, partly because of its gun control measures.

However, the proceedings illustrated how Democrats are struggling under the pressure of the GOP regarding immigration, a significant electoral issue where the left has found it difficult to gain momentum — even as the Trump administration has pursued unpopular policies such as ending birthright citizenship and allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct arrests in schools and religious institutions.

During the nearly six-hour hearing, Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Democrat, recognized the challenges lawmakers face in formulating a comprehensive immigration policy, given Congress' role in regulating immigration and the local authorities’ responsibilities.

“We’re struggling with this right now — there’s a tension between that authority of Congress to act under Article I of the Constitution, and then your responsibility, nobly taken, to provide a safe environment for the residents and visitors to your cities,” Lynch told the mayors. “How do we reconcile? And I’m asking you for advice.”

The mayors offered few concrete solutions, instead redirecting the responsibility to the Republican lawmakers, asking Congress to advance a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

"Respectfully, congressman, you could pass bipartisan legislation and that would be comprehensive immigration law,” Wu responded to a question from Rep. Paul Gosar. “The false narrative is that immigrants in general are criminals, or immigrants in general cause all sorts of danger and harm. That is actually what is undermining safety in our communities.”

This request is likely to go unheard in a Republican-majority government, where lawmakers are more intent on curbing illegal immigration than on broadening citizenship pathways.

The administration has its own objectives concerning immigration, with Trump officials increasing pressure on Congress to address resource deficits in the coming months. The president stated Tuesday night that he submitted a detailed funding request to Congress and urged GOP leaders to act quickly as he pledges to undertake the “largest deportation operation in American history.”

Vance visited Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday to assess migrant apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border, aiming to gain support for the congressional funding request, as the administration's ability to fulfill its deportation plans has been hampered by resource shortages.

“We didn't need new laws to secure the border, we needed a new president, and thank God we have that,” said Vance, who was accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

In contrast, Democrats throughout the hearing emphasized the positive aspects of immigration. Wu mentioned that mass deportations would be “devastating for our economy.”

At various points, both the Democratic mayors and members of the Oversight Committee attempted to shift the conversation entirely. Wu, for example, called for Congress to enact gun control legislation and to protect Medicaid, as Republicans consider cuts to the healthcare program.

Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, from Illinois, lamented the rising cost of eggs under the new Trump administration, suggesting it might soon be cheaper to buy ammunition for an assault rifle than breakfast.

Simultaneously, Republicans insisted that the mayors be accountable for violence they claimed resulted from lax immigration enforcement, citing emotionally charged and graphic instances.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio highlighted the arrest of an alleged Venezuelan gang member implicated in various crimes in the Denver area, while Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina accused the mayors of having “blood” on their hands. Rep. Clay Higgins showcased a photo of a young child held by her parents, one of whom was killed by an undocumented immigrant in Texas, declaring, “He’ll never be here to raise his daughter. You mayors, you have responsibility not just to your communities and the citizens … but by extension to the entire Republic.”

Jordan pressed Denver Mayor Mike Johnston for specifics regarding the Denver case, which he claimed culminated in an assault on an ICE official. Johnston offered to meet with ICE officials to discuss potential procedural modifications after reviewing footage of the incident.

The mayors of California cities with protections for undocumented immigrants were not invited to testify, a missed opportunity according to Rep. Tom McClintock, who said, “They should have been called to account. They weren't. But there'll be other opportunities, and maybe I can make that happen."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams received a more cordial reception from Republicans compared to his counterparts. He has aligned with the Trump administration on immigration policy since the Justice Department opted to dismiss a corruption case against him.

Comer expressed appreciation for Adams' cooperation with the administration in working with ICE, while Democrats accused him of engaging in a quid pro quo arrangement with the administration in exchange for the dismissal of his case — a claim Adams firmly denied.

However, the much-anticipated hearing, introduced with a cinematic-style teaser from the House Oversight Committee, failed to make as significant an impact as the earlier hearing featuring elite university presidents regarding allegations of antisemitic conduct on their campuses.

House Republicans were unable to challenge the mayors as effectively as Rep. Elise Stefanik did when questioning university presidents about potential violations of codes of conduct regarding calls for genocide against Jews.

Still, like many Oversight Committee hearings in this Congress and the last, tensions occasionally flared into heated exchanges. At one point, Comer threatened to remove Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley from the hearing as she attempted to read an article to include materials in the Congressional record.

“This trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committees so you can get on MSNBC is gonna end,” Comer stated. “We’re not gonna put up with it.”

Irie Sentner, Myah Ward, Emily Ngo, Kelly Garrity, and Alex Nieves contributed to this report.

Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News