Statement for the Record: Sanctuary City Mayors

Submitted to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight “A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors”

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 10:00AM

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a leading advocacy organization dedicated to defending and advancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their families. We advocate for laws and policies that allow immigrants and their families to thrive, including access to health care and public assistance programs, education, and workers’ rights.

This hearing, “A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors”, allows an opportunity to shed light on the Trump administration’s use of intimidation tactics to force local officials to cooperate with their mass deportation machine. The data is clear. Forcing state and local governments to devote resources to immigration detention and deportation does not make communities any safer or decrease crime rates and in fact puts entire communities at risk. On the other hand, policies that welcome and prioritize the care of all are associated with better safety, public health, and economic outcomes for entire communities.

*For the full letter,  footnotes, and bibliography, please reference the PDF version of this resource below.