Watch Live: Johnson, sanctuary city mayors testify before Congress
Watch the hearing live in the player above beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will be among several mayors of sanctuary cities testifying before Congress in Washington D.C. Wednesday.
Johnson, along with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York Mayor Eric Adams be questioned by the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform over their policies surrounding immigration and their respective city’s sanctuary status, which prevents residents without documentation from being prosecuted solely for immigration reasons.
In Chicago, the Welcoming City Ordinance prohibits the disclosure of residency status of any person to any official unless required to do so by legal process. City benefits can also not be denied because of immigration status, and local law enforcement is restricted from participating in federal immigration enforcement actions, among other policies under the ordinance.
The committee’s chairman, Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer, has said states and cities that do not comply with federal immigration agents should not receive federal funding. Chicago and Illinois both have laws on the books that limit local police officers’ ability to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, laws which have become the subject of a lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department recently.
Here’s what to know about the hearing, and how to watch.
What time is Johnson testifying in D.C.?
According to the committee’s website, the hearing will start at approximately 9 a.m. Chicago time on Wednesday morning.
How to watch Johnson’s hearing
The hearing will livestream on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s website, and will also stream on the committee’s YouTube channel and on the NBC 5 Chicago News streaming channel in the player above.
The hearing is also expected to air and stream on C-SPAN.
Who is on the committee that will question Johnson?
The committee is made up of 26 Republicans and 21 Democrats, and some of the biggest names in both parties could participate in the hearing.
Among the Republicans is Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Colorado Rep. Lauren Bobert and South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace.
Democrats on the committee do include Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the lone member of Illinois’ Congressional delegation among the 47 lawmakers.
High-profile reps like Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Ranking Member Rep. Gerald Connolly are also included in the group.
What to expect from the hearing
Most Congressional hearings feature an opening statement by the chair, followed by opening statements by each of the witnesses, so it’s likely Johnson will make opening remarks before testimony begins.
Each member present is then allowed five minutes to ask questions of witnesses, though members of Congress do typically give brief speeches to preface their questions.
Rep. James Comer, the chair of the committee, has promised to hold mayors “publicly accountable” for what he argues is a violation of federal law, with the mayors presiding over cities that have limits to the cooperation law enforcement can have with federal immigration enforcement actions.
“State and local governments that refuse to comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts should not receive a penny of federal funding,” Comer said. “President Trump and his administration are rightfully taking action against sanctuary cities. On March 5, the House Oversight Committee will hold sanctuary mayors publicly accountable for refusing to abide by the law and placing Americans’ lives at risk.”
U.S. Sen Dick Durbin told NBC Chicago that Johnson had called him to ask what to expect on Capitol Hill, and the senator told him that the committee is one of the most partisan on the Hill.
“He called me personally and asked what he can expect, and I told him it would be a trial by fire,” he said.
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