A congressional committee has summoned Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to testify in Washington, D.C., next month to defend the city’s policies limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
In a letter to Johnston on Monday, the U.S. House’s Committee on Oversight and Government Reform singled out Denver as one of four cities that “stand out in their abject failure to comply with federal law,” along with Chicago, New York City, and Boston. Similar letters were sent to the mayors of those cities as well.
The committee’s investigation comes as President Donald Trump plans to crack down on illegal immigration and carry out mass deportations. He has also threatened to withhold federal funding from cities that refuse to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the letter signed by committee chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, “Denver is a sanctuary jurisdiction that refuses to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.” Although Denver has not officially declared itself a sanctuary city, the City Council adopted a proclamation in 2016 declaring the city “welcoming and inclusive of all people.” Additionally, the city follows a policy of not honoring detainer requests by ICE for inmates in the jail, except as required by law.
Colorado state law also limits local cooperation with ICE, with many sheriffs only notifying ICE before the release of targeted inmates without holding them any longer.
The committee’s letter referenced comments made by Johnston in November, where he stated he was willing to go to jail to prevent the deportations of illegal immigrants. The committee also requested “documents and information related to the sanctuary policies of Denver.”
“The most helpful thing Congressional Republicans could do right now is fix our broken immigration system,” Johnston stated through a spokesperson. “While they work on that, we will focus on running the cities that manage the consequences of their failure to act.”
Johnston will consider the request to testify over the next few days, according to Jordan Fuja, his spokesperson.
The committee stated that it is investigating sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States and their impact on public safety. They emphasized the need for federal immigration law enforcement and the quick removal of criminal aliens from communities.
The committee invited Johnston to testify during a hearing scheduled for February 11. City documents and communications meeting specific criteria dating back to January 1, 2024, regarding the city’s “sanctuary status” are to be submitted to the committee by the day before the hearing.
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Originally Published: January 27, 2025 at 7:07 PM MST
