Congresswoman Announces She’ll Being Sending Report To DOJ
In a heated exchange on Capitol Hill, Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida made it clear that the time for unchecked sanctuary city policies may be coming to an end. Speaking before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Luna took aim at the Democratic mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City—leaders of some of the country’s most prominent sanctuary cities—accusing them of aiding and abetting illegal immigration in violation of federal law.
The mayors—Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver, and Eric Adams of New York City—testified as part of an ongoing investigation into sanctuary policies that shield illegal immigrants from federal enforcement. Their cities have been at the forefront of refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), often releasing individuals back into their communities despite ICE detainer requests.
After pressing the mayors on their policies and their consequences, Luna delivered a stark warning: she would be referring them to the Department of Justice for a potential criminal investigation. Citing U.S. Title 8, subsection 1324—a statute that criminalizes the act of knowingly harboring, shielding, or assisting illegal immigrants—Luna made it clear that these policies were not just controversial but potentially illegal.
“But you all speak about a broken immigration system, and yet here you guys are aiding and abetting in that entire process,” she stated firmly. “Open border policies… hurt people on both sides, including the people that are coming here illegally and then American citizens as well.”
Luna dismissed any notion that her referral was politically motivated, emphasizing that her concern was for the safety and well-being of American citizens. “I do not think you guys are bad people, but I think that you are ideologically misled,” she said. “If you guys continue doing what you’re doing, you’re not going to help anyone. You’re going to hurt more people, and that’s exactly why I’m tired of it. The American people are tired of it.”
Her announcement comes amid a broader Republican effort to scrutinize sanctuary city policies, which have long been a point of contention between state and local governments and federal immigration authorities. The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into Boston, Denver, Chicago, and New York City’s sanctuary practices in January, highlighting cases where illegal immigrants accused of violent crimes were released rather than being turned over to ICE.
Massachusetts, for example, has faced criticism for releasing individuals with serious criminal charges. ICE agents arrested a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala in June 2024, who had been freed on bail after being charged with raping a child in Bristol County. In another case, an illegal immigrant from the Cape Verde Islands with multiple public lewdness convictions was taken into custody by ICE in April 2024.
Denver’s mayor, Mike Johnston, has been particularly vocal in his defense of sanctuary policies, even suggesting in a November 2021 interview that Denver residents and law enforcement could resist federal deportation efforts. His remarks were met with criticism from former Acting ICE Director Tom Homan, who noted that such actions could constitute a felony under federal law.
New York City, meanwhile, has been overwhelmed by a massive influx of migrants—over 200,000 since 2022—prompting Mayor Eric Adams to implement significant budget cuts. The strain on the city’s resources led to reductions in police hiring and library services, among other cost-saving measures, in an effort to accommodate the financial burden of housing and supporting the incoming migrant population.