Prosecute the Illegal-Embracing, Community-Destroying Democratic Mayors
On March 5, 2025, a contentious hearing unfolded as four Democratic mayors—Michelle Wu of Boston, Eric Adams of New York City, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Mike Johnston of Denver—defended their cities’ sanctuary policies before a congressional panel. These policies, which limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, have long been a flashpoint in the debate over illegal immigration. The truth is undeniable: there is nothing constitutional or defensible about sanctuary cities. They defy federal authority, burden taxpayers, and, as crime statistics and public sentiment reveal, wreak havoc on the very communities they claim to protect. With Rep. Anna Paulina Luna now referring these mayors to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for prosecution, the time for accountability has arrived.
Sanctuary cities lack any legal footing under the U.S. Constitution. Article I, Section 8 grants Congress plenary power over immigration, and federal statutes like 8 U.S.C. § 1373 require state and local cooperation with immigration enforcement. By refusing to honor ICE detainers or report undocumented immigrants, these cities violate the Supremacy Clause, which establishes federal law as supreme. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Arizona v. United States (2012) reaffirmed federal primacy over immigration policy. Sanctuary policies aren’t a noble stand—they’re an illegal rebellion against constitutional order, fostering crime and chaos under a false banner of compassion.
The residents of these cities have made their discontent clear through dismal approval ratings. Chicago’s Brandon Johnson sits at a shocking 6.6% approval as of February 2025, with 79.9% disapproving, New York City’s Eric Adams hovers at 27% amid a migrant crisis and federal investigations, Denver’s Mike Johnston ranges from 43-60%, while Boston’s Michelle Wu, despite a 40-57% favorability in May 2024, sees re-election support drop to 43%. These numbers reflect a resounding rejection of leaders who prioritize ideology over public safety and fiscal sanity.
Crime data from these cities exposes the fallout of sanctuary policies. Chicago recorded 28,443 violent crimes in 2024, including 573 homicides, with aggravated assaults at a 20-year high. Denver’s crime rate hit 67 per 1,000 residents in 2023, among the nation’s highest, despite a slight 8% homicide drop in 2024. New York City saw a 2% decline in major crimes in 2024, but felony assaults rose 4.5%, per NYPD stats. Boston, with 27 crimes per 1,000 residents and 24 homicides in 2024—its lowest since 1957—still exceeds national averages. These figures suggest sanctuary policies shield criminals, not citizens, draining resources and fueling degeneracy.
The financial burden is astronomical. New York City has spent $6.9 billion on illegal immigration from FY 2023-2025, Chicago $574.5 million since 2022, and Denver $79 million. Boston’s costs are obscured, as the city refuses to track citizenship status—a willful blindness that hides the strain on taxpayers. These billions divert funds from critical services, exposing the reckless extravagance of sanctuary status.
At the hearing, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced she’s referring these mayors to the DOJ for prosecution, citing violations of federal law against harboring undocumented immigrants. Their fates now lie with Pam Bondi, sworn in as Attorney General on February 4, 2025. This is a defining moment for justice.
Congress cannot sit idly by. Representatives must rally behind Luna’s referral and press Attorney General Bondi to prosecute these mayors to the fullest extent of the law. Pass legislation to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities, enforce compliance with immigration statutes, and protect American communities from the fallout of these failed policies. The Constitution demands it, the people deserve it—act now to restore law and order.
