In a bold move during today’s House Oversight Committee hearing on March 5, 2025, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced she is referring four Democratic mayors to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal investigation due to their cities’ sanctuary policies. The mayors—Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver, and Eric Adams of New York—faced intense scrutiny over their refusal to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, a stance Luna and other law enforcement advocates argue undermines public safety, national security, and efforts to address the growing crisis of illegal immigration.
Luna’s statements came after a heated line of questioning where she accused the mayors of violating federal law, specifically 8 U.S. Code § 1324, which prohibits aiding and abetting illegal immigrants. “After this line of questioning, it’s very clear that these policies…are in direct violation with U.S. Title 8 code, subsection 1324, and is a federal offense,” Luna declared. She emphasized that their sanctuary city policies—limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—endanger American communities by shielding criminals who exploit a broken immigration system. Holding up referral documents, she added, “As soon as I leave here, these will be going over to [Attorney General] Pam Bondi.”
The targeted mayors oversee cities with well-documented histories of non-cooperation with ICE detainers, requests to hold illegal immigrants for deportation. In Boston, Mayor Wu has defended policies that bar local police from honoring ICE detainers unless a criminal warrant is involved. This led to the release of a Guatemalan illegal immigrant in 2024, charged with child rape, despite an ICE request—only for ICE to later apprehend him. New York City, under Mayor Adams, has spent $6.9 billion on migrant services yet frequently ignores ICE detainers. In one instance, an illegal immigrant released by NYC authorities went on to commit additional crimes, highlighting the risks of such policies. Denver, led by Mayor Johnston, has a similar track record; last year, local officials released a suspected Venezuelan gang member in a parking lot with just an hour’s notice to ICE, resulting in an agent’s injury during the subsequent arrest.
These examples underscore the critical need for cooperation with federal law enforcement. When cities refuse ICE detainers, officers are forced to track down and arrest dangerous individuals outside secure facilities—often in unpredictable, high-risk environments like parking lots or public streets. This not only jeopardizes officer safety but also endangers detainees and bystanders, amplifying the chaos caused by unchecked illegal immigration. Criminals released back into communities threaten national security, as seen with violent offenders tied to groups like Tren de Aragua slipping through the cracks.
Luna’s referral is a clarion call for accountability. “I’m not doing this to bully you,” she told the mayors, “but your policies are hurting the American people.” Her actions reinforce the urgent need for cities to align with federal efforts to deport criminal illegal immigrants, ensuring law enforcement can protect the public without facing unnecessary risks. As the DOJ reviews her request, this showdown signals a pivotal moment in the fight for safety and sovereignty.
