Rep. Paul Gosar grills 'sanctuary city' mayors on Arizona's SB 1070 at immigration hearing
Rep. Paul Gosar clashed over immigration with big city Democratic mayors in a congressional hearing, going as far as to quiz them on Arizona's controversial Senate Bill 1070 law.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, titled 'A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors,' included Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
Gosar, R-Ariz., accused the mayors of 'disgracing a legal immigration system' and promoting a 'false narrative' on illegal immigration. He asked them if they supported Arizona's hardline SB 1070 immigration law that passed 15 years ago, most of which the Supreme Court struck down in 2012 because it violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
'Did you support the Arizona law called SB 1070?' Gosar asked New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Adams and the other mayors said they were unfamiliar with the Arizona law and assured Gosar that they comply with all state and federal laws. SB 1070 was passed by state lawmakers in Arizona in 2010, not by Congress.
The hearing came as Republican President Donald Trump continues his immigration crackdown and looks to ramp up mass deportations of illegal immigrants. Trump border czar Tom Homan has taken aim at Boston and Chicago as places to carry out immigration raids. He has a warmer relationship with Adams of New York City.
Boston, New York City and Chicago are sanctuary cities, where municipal laws protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and prosecution. The mayor of Denver calls his city 'welcoming' but does not use the 'sanctuary city' label.
'The federal government has jurisdiction and supremacy over all immigration laws, right?' Gosar asked the mayors. 'How can you get a comprehensive immigration policy when you're defining it from the very get go. You're building on false premises.'
Wu, the mayor of Boston, responded by pointing to the sweeping Department of Government Efficiency cuts enacted by Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk.
'Respectfully, Congressman, you could pass bipartisan legislation, and that would be comprehensive immigration law. The false narrative is that immigrants in general are criminals, or immigrants in general cause all sorts of danger and harm. That is actually what is undermining safety in our communities,' Wu said. 'If you want to make us safe, pass gun reforms. Stop cutting Medicaid, stop cutting cancer research, stop cutting funds for veterans. That is what will make our city safe.'
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rep. Paul Gosar grills 'sanctuary city' mayors on SB 1070
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