On March 5th, mayors from several major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, Denver, and Boston, announced that their policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement have played a significant role in reducing crime rates. According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, the mayors made these claims during a congressional hearing led by Republican members of the House Oversight Committee. Despite an increase in the number of immigrants, these mayors argued that violent crime has decreased in their cities.
These cities, which do not cooperate with the Donald Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns, are often referred to as “sanctuary” cities. Sanctuary cities are typically safer for undocumented immigrants, as they refrain from sharing information with federal authorities, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even when they confirm someone’s undocumented status. The mayors argue that their policies promote safety by encouraging immigrants to report crimes to the police without fear of deportation.
In contrast, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), former chairman of the hard-line Republican Freedom Caucus, criticized sanctuary city policies, suggesting they protect illegal immigrants with criminal records from federal immigration authorities. Despite this criticism, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pushed back, calling the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant stance “misleading” and “unfair,” adding that it was “degrading to scapegoat an entire community.”
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston emphasized the city’s commitment to providing equal access to services for all, regardless of immigration status. “If they break the law, we hold them accountable, prosecute them, and punish them equally,” he said. Johnston also stressed that law-abiding citizens, whether documented or undocumented, should not fear be being turned over to federal authorities when seeking essential services.
The mayors of these sanctuary cities claim that immigrants are more likely to report crimes and cooperate with investigations if they do not fear being asked about their immigration status. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also criticized Republican policies, calling for reforms in gun control, Medicaid, and veterans’ support, as she argued that these issues, rather than immigration, play a larger role in public safety.
The Trump administration has been vocal in criticizing sanctuary cities and has threatened to take strong action against them. This conflict over immigration policies was a point of contention throughout Trump’s first term, during which the administration sought to withhold federal funding from sanctuary municipalities in response to their refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.