Denver Mayor Faces Congressional Hearing Amid Tense Exchanges Following ICE’s Claims of Releasing Tren de Aragua Gang Member

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston faced tough questioning from Republican representatives during a lengthy hearing about immigration policies in Washington on Wednesday. The timing was critical for Johnston, as just days earlier, a dangerous situation had emerged in Denver involving a released inmate linked to gang activity.

Four days before the hearing, authorities reported that the Denver Jail released Abraham Gonzalez, a suspected Venezuelan gang member. Although the jail was supposed to notify federal immigration agents 48 hours before his release, they only managed to do so one hour ahead of time. This incident raised concerns, especially after an ICE agent was injured during Gonzalez’s apprehension, leading to fierce criticism from Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Crank.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform wanted insights from Johnston and other mayors about how their cities handle undocumented immigrants found guilty of crimes. They argued that these policies were putting both the public and law enforcement at risk.

During the six-hour session, the committee members dominated the conversation, often cutting off the mayors before they could fully respond. Johnston found himself responding defensively as accusations of inadequate leadership flew from the Republicans in attendance.

For example, Rep. James Comer, the committee’s chairman, asked Johnston if Denver is a sanctuary city. Johnston began to clarify the city’s policies, but Comer interrupted, implying that he had already concluded that it was. Similar interruptions occurred throughout the hearing, making it difficult for Johnston to share his views.

One notable exchange occurred with Rep. Lauren Boebert, who pressed Johnston for simple yes or no answers, limiting his ability to elaborate on Denver’s policies. This confrontational approach characterized much of the hearing.

Rep. Crank questioned Johnston about his response to the incident with Gonzalez and whether he had reached out to the injured ICE officer. Johnston confirmed that he had, emphasizing that Denver had successfully handled similar releases in the past without issues.

In his opening remarks, Johnston defended his record by highlighting his duty to protect all residents of Denver, including those in need, such as families struggling with homelessness. He stated that despite the influx of migrants, crime rates in Denver have not surged.

However, some committee members were skeptical. Republican Rep. Gabe Evans pointed out that Denver ranks among the most dangerous cities and criticized its approach to not checking inmates’ immigration status. Boebert claimed that Denver’s policies negatively impacted nearby cities like Aurora, suggesting that crime rates there had risen due to Denver’s actions.

Johnston countered by saying that the real issue lay with Congress needing to take responsibility for immigration reform. He argued that local policies were not the source of the problems being discussed. After the hearing, Johnston expressed concern that the committee members were not open to understanding his perspective and planned to continue to clarify that Denver is not a sanctuary city.

Some Republican members suggested withholding federal funding to Denver and called for further investigations into the mayors for allegedly harboring criminals, a move Johnston is prepared to challenge legally. He insists that his city has not violated any laws and that his administration will fight against any attempts to penalize Denver financially.

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