Denver Mayor Mike Johnston defended his city’s immigration policies on Wednesday during a congressional hearing led by House Republicans on so-called “sanctuary city” policies. The hearing, chaired by U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, focused on what Republicans described as “misguided and obstructionist policies” that hinder federal immigration enforcement.
Johnston, one of four mayors called to testify, detailed how Denver responded to a large influx of migrants, many of them Venezuelans lawfully seeking asylum. Since early 2023, more than 42,000 migrants have arrived in Denver, giving the city the highest per-capita influx of any U.S. city.
“We are each entitled to our own opinions about border policy, but that was not the question facing Denver,” Johnston told lawmakers. “The question was: What do you do when a mother and two children are left on the streets of your city with no warm clothes, no food, and no place to stay?”
Denver initially opened emergency shelters to house new arrivals. Over the next two years, as migrants obtained work permits and secured jobs and housing, the shelters were phased out. The city spent $79 million on support services, though costs have since dropped by nearly 90%, Johnston said.
“Denver made a choice—not to hate each other, but to help each other,” he said. “It wasn’t perfect, and it required sacrifices, but in the end, our city became stronger and more united.”
Republicans Challenge Denver’s Crime Data
All four Republican members of Colorado’s congressional delegation—Reps. Lauren Boebert, Gabe Evans, Jeff Crank, and Jeff Hurd—questioned Johnston during the hearing. Boebert, the only permanent Oversight Committee member among them, was joined by the others on a temporary basis.
Evans, a former police officer, criticized Denver’s immigration policies, claiming they were responsible for a decline in public safety. He later called Johnston’s assertion that crime rates in Denver had fallen “categorically false.”
However, data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation contradicts that claim. According to Denver Police Department statistics, violent and property crime rates peaked in 2022, before the surge in migrants, and have since declined.
Boebert acknowledged that crime had dropped in Denver but alleged it had risen in neighboring Aurora because Denver was “shipping” migrants there. She referenced claims that a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, had taken over Aurora.
But official data does not support Boebert’s claim. Like Denver, Aurora has seen crime rates decline since 2022, according to Aurora Police Department statistics.
Immigration Policies and Legal Disputes
Johnston testified alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. The Democratic minority on the committee invited David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, as a witness. Bier cited research showing that immigrants, including those without legal status, commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans.
“If Congress wants more cooperation, it should address the concerns of these cities,” Bier said. “A mass deportation agenda is a far greater threat to public safety than any city policy.”
The term “sanctuary city” has no legal definition. However, many local governments limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to protect community trust and reduce strain on law enforcement. Colorado law prohibits local police from detaining individuals solely for civil immigration violations. In 2017, Denver passed an ordinance restricting ICE access to secure areas in city jails without a warrant.
Johnston made headlines in November when he warned that mass deportations under a future Trump administration could lead to “a Tiananmen Square moment” in Denver, where police and residents might engage in civil disobedience. He later walked back those remarks but maintained that he was “not afraid” to defy illegal or unethical deportation efforts.
During the hearing, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana suggested that Johnston’s stance could lead to legal consequences.
“One of you said you were willing to go to jail,” Higgins said. “We might give you that opportunity.”
Denver’s Cooperation with ICE
Johnston emphasized that Denver follows state and federal laws and cooperates with ICE in certain cases, such as when a federal criminal warrant is involved. He faced scrutiny over the recent release of Abraham Gonzalez, a suspected Tren de Aragua member, from a Denver jail. ICE agents were present at the jail’s parking lot to take Gonzalez into custody, but he assaulted the officers during the arrest.
Rep. Crank accused Johnston of putting law enforcement at risk to “score political points.”
“Will you change that, for the safety of your officers and those ICE agents?” Crank asked.
Johnston responded that this was the first such incident among more than 1,200 similar cases where Denver had notified ICE of a suspect’s release.
“I reached out to ICE officers yesterday,” he said. “I’ve asked to meet with them to discuss how we can align procedures to ensure officer safety.”
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