Chicago alderman says Mayor Brandon Johnson can’t defend sanctuary city policies: ‘Lamb to the slaughter’

A Chicago alderman has criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson ahead of his upcoming congressional testimony on the city’s sanctuary policies, suggesting the mayor is unprepared to defend the city’s stance. Alderman Anthony Napolitano, who represents Chicago’s 41st ward, expressed strong opposition to the city’s sanctuary status, arguing that it has placed an undue burden on taxpayers and strained local infrastructure. He stated, “There’s no answer for this. We should not have been a sanctuary city to begin with. You’re punishing taxpayers by using their money to help the illegals.” Napolitano also criticized the city’s handling of the influx of migrants, noting that Chicago was ill-prepared to accommodate the tens of thousands of people who arrived, many of whom were bussed to the city as part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star program. He emphasized that the city’s progressive policies have Backfired, leading to increased crime and a strained resources.

Johnson, along with the mayors of New York City, Boston, and Denver, is set to appear before Congress on Wednesday to defend the sanctuary status of their cities. During a recent news conference, Johnsonpreviewed his stance, emphasizing his commitment to defending Chicago’s policies. “We’re going to hold to our values, and whether or not we can get our message across in that particular room doesn’t mean that I’m gonna stop delivering the message of hope,” he said. Johnson has consistently framed the city’s sanctuary policies as a matter of upholding its values of inclusivity and support for immigrant and refugee communities. On the city’s website, he highlights the contributions of Chicago’s 560,000 foreign-born residents, stating, “Chicago will always be a welcoming city and a champion for the rights of our immigrant and refugee communities.”

Despite Johnson’s resolve, the hearing is expected to be contentious, with Republican lawmakers likely to grill the mayors over their cities’ sanctuary policies. Kentucky Rep. James Comer, the chair of the committee overseeing the hearing, has accused the mayors of prioritizing “criminal illegal aliens over the American people.” The hearing comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration and GOP-controlled House of Representatives to strip sanctuary cities of federal funding. Chicago alone receives approximately $4 billion annually from the federal government, making the stakes incredibly high for the city.

Alderman Napolitano, a first-generation American, has been a vocal critic of Chicago’s sanctuary policies, particularly in light of the influx of migrants to the city. He noted that when Chicago first became a sanctuary city, it was seen as a symbolic gesture, given the city’s distance from the southern border. However, when tens of thousands of migrants began arriving, the city was unprepared to provide adequate housing and support. “When we first became a sanctuary city, it was easy to do. It was a pat on our administration’s back, because the [southern] border is 1,450 miles away,” he said. “But when they came, and they came in large amounts – up to 50,000-60,000 people – it hurt our infrastructure.”

Napolitano also pointed to the rise in migrant-related crime as a result of the city’s sanctuary policies. He shared a personal anecdote about a homicide in his ward involving two undocumented immigrants, asserting that the absence of programs to support migrants has led many to turn to crime out of desperation. “There’s a lot of people just standing around doing nothing that, who are, unfortunately, reverting to crime, looking for a way to support themselves and their family,” he said. Additionally, Napolitano highlighted the challenges faced by the Chicago Police Department, which has struggled to attract and retain officers in recent years. He noted that fewer people are willing to take the job due to fear and the perception that police are not supported by city leaders.

The debate over Chicago’s sanctuary policies has also sparked frustration among residents, particularly as the city has grappled with a budget deficit and increased spending on housing and feeding migrants. At recent city council meetings, some residents have expressed anger over proposed tax hikes, arguing that their tax dollars are being misused to support undocumented immigrants. South Side resident Danielle Carter summed up the frustration of many when she said, “The taxpayers are paying for and funding this illegal migrant crisis. So, therefore, it’s not fair to us because they are taking our resources. They are spending our tax dollars on people who crossed the border illegally. I think everybody who came over here illegally should get deported and come back legally.”

As the hearing approaches, the debate over sanctuary cities is set to intensify, with Chicago at the center of the storm. Mayor Johnson and his fellow mayors will face tough questions from lawmakers, while residents and local leaders like Alderman Napolitano continue to voice their concerns about the impact of these policies on their communities. Whether Johnson can successfully defend Chicago’s stance remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the issue of sanctuary cities has become a flash point in the ongoing national debate over immigration and federal authority.