Boston Mayor Wu, different mayors could face prison prosecution for sanctuary insurance policies, Home Republicans say

WASHINGTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu could also be going through prison prosecution for town’s sanctuary insurance policies after the prospect of federal costs was raised by quite a few Republican lawmakers who grilled her at a Congressional oversight listening to.

After accusing Wu and three different sanctuary mayors from Chicago, Denver and New York Metropolis of “breaking the law” by means of their cities’ restricted cooperation with federal immigration authorities, three Home Republicans stated they had been both contemplating referring them for costs or a Division of Justice probe.

“I’ve been considering referring charges,” U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, an Alabama Republican, stated at Wednesday’s listening to of the GOP-led Home Committee on Oversight and Authorities Reform. “I don’t care who it is, I don’t care what office you hold, we need to abide by the laws passed.”

The prospect of potential costs was raised once more by U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, after the Florida Republican introduced up the Boston Belief Act, a 2014 native legislation that prohibits metropolis police and different departments from cooperating with federal authorities on civil immigration detainers.

Luna stated Boston’s enforcement of the Belief Act, which she stated restricts police communication with federal immigration authorities, was a violation of federal legislation.

“That is not the truth,” Wu shot again to Luna’s assertion.

After questioning the mayors, Luna stated she can be “criminally referring” all 4 to the U.S. Division of Justice for investigation.

“I’m not doing that in an effort to bully you guys, but I do believe your policies are hurting the American people, and you can make that known with the evidence you can present to the Department of Justice,” Luna stated. “If you guys keep doing what you’re doing, you’re not going to help anyone. You’re going to hurt more people.”

In a while, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, went so far as to accuse the 4 mayors of committing “treason” with their sanctuary insurance policies.

Whereas not going so far as her Republican counterparts, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace informed the mayors of their sanctuary insurance policies, “You all have blood on your hands,” as others spoke of crimes dedicated by unlawful immigrants.

After the listening to, Committee Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, informed reporters there can be “serious consequences” for the mayors, together with cuts to federal funding for his or her cities, in the event that they proceed to “obstruct” the deportation of “criminal illegals.”

Comer stated, nonetheless, that he would depart the prospect of prison costs and prosecution as much as the Division of Justice.

“We investigate, we have public hearings, and the Department of Justice would determine whether or not to prosecute,” Comer stated. “Federal funding is at risk if they continue to obstruct.”

Wu, when requested about Republican lawmakers indicating they’d pursue prison costs, stated “Boston follows the laws.”

“As we heard throughout the many hours of testimony today, Boston follows the laws,” Wu informed reporters, “and I am happy and will make sure that my team continues to follow up with this committee to get them any other information they need.”

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat who beforehand sat alongside Wu on the Boston Metropolis Council, stated that whereas she thought costs can be baseless, she wouldn’t “underestimate” the Trump administration.

“They continue to push the bounds of what is criminality, to stoke the flames of fear-mongering, of demonizing our neighbors, our loved ones, our communities and the cities that we love,” Pressley informed reporters.

“I’m just proud of our mayor and her vigorous defense of our city, and that she is telling the accurate story of the vitality and the vibrance, and also that this is the safest big city in America,” Pressley added.

Wu referenced town’s low murder charge final 12 months, the bottom on document for roughly 70 years, whereas defending the Hub’s public security document amid blistering assaults from Home Republicans. Democrats on the panel provided Wu and her colleagues help to counter the onslaught.

Boston’s mayor obtained in her personal photographs all through the listening to, significantly when pushing again on border czar Tom Homan’s vow to carry “hell” to the Hub and urging Congress to do their “jobs” and repair the federal authorities’s damaged immigration system.

“Let’s talk about Tom Homan,” Wu stated. “Shame on him for lying about my city, for having the nerve to insult our police commissioner who has overseen the safest Boston in anyone’s lifetime. Bring him here under oath and let’s ask him some questions.”

Wu stumbled a bit, nonetheless, when she was the one mayor unable to supply any monetary estimates as to what Boston has spent on unlawful immigration lately, equivalent to by housing migrants, offering asylum or via different protections.

Whereas Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson drew the ire of Republican lawmakers for limiting his estimate to bills being roughly 1 p.c of his metropolis’s finances, after Denver and New York Metropolis mayors Mike Johnston and Eric Adams had been capable of present concrete numbers at $79 million over the previous two years and $6.9 billion, respectively, Wu was hammered for saying Boston doesn’t maintain observe.

Wu stated she couldn’t present a quantity as a result of Boston doesn’t ask about immigration standing, when requested a number of occasions to share the prices.

“You don’t ask how much money the city of Boston has spent on illegal immigration — are you out of your mind?” U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, stated. “Do you manage your budget?”

Wu responded by saying that she does, in reality, handle her finances, and that Boston has a wholesome AAA bond score.

MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale later blasted Wu’s “lack of transparency” round taxpayer funds.

“Taxpayers deserve to know how much of their money is being diverted away from vital services from lifelong Bostonians to fund sanctuary city policies that encourage illegal immigration,” Carnevale stated in an announcement.