Republican lawmakers said they were introducing the Democratic sanctuary mayor who testified before Congress to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution on Wednesday.
R-FLA Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said the mayor, who testified at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Sanctuary City, violated Title 8, US Law ยง1324. It also prohibits illegal employment of aliens.
“I've only introduced the mayor of the Sanctuary City to the Department of Justice based on their own comments and evidence from policies and evidence that they have proven they are breaking federal law,” Luna wrote in X in a video accompanying her announcement.
“Open border ideology hurts people on both sides. If you keep a federal office and break the law, you will be criminally investigated by the DOJ.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Trials on March 5th. After the hearing, R-FLA Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said she was introducing the mayor to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution. (Anadoru via Getty Images)
Anna Paulina Luna leads the Epstein Client List, which leads the task force on declassifying JFK assassination records
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu all defended the policies of their respective city sanctuaries during fiery hearings. They defended the community as being welcoming and called on Congress to pass immigration reform.
Congressional Republicans have hampered the mayor due to their sanctuary city policies, accusing them of putting Americans at risk and threatening to indict local officials.
Luna told the mayor that their policies hurt not only immigrants but citizens.
R-FLA Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said the mayor is breaking federal law with illegal immigrants. (Getty Images)
As GOP councillors say they are responsible for the policy, mayor of Denver
“I don't think you guys are bad people, but I think you're ideologically misunderstood,” Luna said.
“Unfortunately, based on your response, I intend to criminally introduce everything you have to you to the Department of Justice for an investigation,” she said, posting a copy of the referral.
“As soon as I leave, these will go to (attorney general) Pam Bondi.”
Congress's criminal referrals do not require the DOJ to start prosecutors and holds no weight as much as referrals from the entire room.
Republicans were trying to portray the city as depicting it with criminal immigrants, even if crime was declining, according to the mayor. The mayor said the key to safety is to create a city where residents feel comfortable reporting crimes and working with police.
Illegal immigration is a key board for Trump's presidential election, and he repeatedly pushed themes since his inauguration, including a speech on Tuesday night that vowed to “complete the biggest deportation operation in American history.”
The immigrants will be seen sleeping outside the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan on July 31, 2023. (via Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
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A member of the House Freedom Caucus, Luna leads the House Oversight Committee task force on declassification of federal secrets. This was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther Kingjull. , and a new task force focusing on the confidentialization of federal secrets, including records related to other interests.
She also approaches the Department of Justice about the release of a classified record related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
