Denver Mayor Johnston Questioned in ‘Sanctuary City’ Hearing

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is sworn in during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Washington.
Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP Photo

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was questioned by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform yesterday about Denver’s status as a so-called “sanctuary city” for illegal migrants.

Johnston joined the mayors of Chicago, Boston, and New York in testifying before the committee about what’s been called an “abject failure to comply with federal law.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert, a member of the committee, accused Johnston of “shipping illegal aliens to Aurora” while crime increased. She also questioned a 2017 ordinance that prohibits city employees from asking about someone’s immigration status or reporting it to federal immigration authorities.

Throughout the hearing, Johnston insisted he would keep the city’s current policies, even facing arrest to defend them, though he denied having violated federal law.