Higgins Blasts Sanctuary City Policies, Accuses Mayors of "Betrayal of Oath" During House Hearing
During a heated House Oversight Committee hearing focused on the impact of sanctuary city policies, Louisiana Representative Clay Higgins delivered a blistering critique of Democratic mayors presiding over cities with such policies, accusing them of a "betrayal of oath" and directly linking their policies to tragic consequences, including the death of a Louisiana man. The hearing featured testimony from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, all grappling with the influx of migrants and the associated strain on their cities’ resources.
Higgins framed the current situation as a direct consequence of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, contrasting it sharply with the approach of former President Donald Trump. "President Trump has ripped the curtains from the rods," Higgins declared, suggesting that Trump’s policies had exposed the true impact of the Biden administration’s policies and sanctuary city practices across the United States.
The Louisiana congressman argued that Americans are increasingly frustrated with the perceived failure to enforce existing immigration laws and accused the mayors of prioritizing sanctuary policies over the safety and well-being of their constituents and the nation as a whole. He specifically targeted policies that limit or outright prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the deportation of individuals deemed to be dangerous criminal illegal immigrants.
To underscore the human cost of these policies, Higgins highlighted the case of Wesley Hayes, a young husband and father from Louisiana, who he stated was killed in Texas by an undocumented immigrant. Addressing the committee, Higgins said Hayes’ death served as a stark reminder of the real-life consequences of sanctuary city policies and what he describes as lax enforcement of immigration laws.
"The policies of these mayors and our previous president have consequences, real-life consequences," Higgins asserted. He then introduced Olivia Hayes, Wesley’s wife, and their daughter, Anne Marie, who were present at the hearing. The congressman continued, choked with emotion, "This young man was killed by an illegal immigrant in Texas that never should have been in our country. He’ll never be here to raise his daughter, Anne Marie, and to love and cherish and honor and uphold his beautiful wife, Olivia."
Directly addressing the mayors, Higgins raised his voice, emphasizing their broader responsibility. "You mayors, you have a responsibility not just to your communities and citizens you’re sworn to serve, but by extension to the entire republic."
He then challenged the mayors’ focus on the separation of children in the context of immigration enforcement. "All you want to talk to [are] the children, separation of children," he said. Higgins drew a distinction between the temporary separation resulting from legal prosecution and the permanent separation caused by violent crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants. "If you commit a felony in America, you get arrested and prosecuted and convicted and incarcerated. You can expect to be separated from your children. But let me say there’s a sunset to that separation, because when you do your time, you’ll be released. You can return to your family. This young man will never return to his family, and he should have never been removed from his family if we had a president and heads of our municipalities that were willing to uphold the federal law that exists."
Higgins then reiterated his claim that the situation at the border had dramatically deteriorated under the Biden administration. "Three months ago, we were at the tail end of four years of millions and millions of illegals coming into our country, [it] was out of control. The only thing that has happened since then is we had an election in November, and now we’re not pulling the curtain back, we have ripped the curtain from the rods. We have revealed to America just how fast we could have secured our border if you had an executive that was willing to enforce the law," he stated.
Concluding his remarks, Higgins expressed optimism about a shift towards stricter enforcement of immigration laws. "America is moving into a new era of enforcement of our own laws. Welcome to it," he proclaimed.
Higgins’ passionate statements were interspersed with news headlines highlighting incidents related to sanctuary city policies, including "BOSTON MAYOR WU OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF SUSPECT SHOT AFTER ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO STAB PEOPLE" and "CHICAGO ALDERMAN SAYS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON CANT DEFEND SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES."
The hearing underscored the deep partisan divisions surrounding immigration policy and the challenges facing cities grappling with the influx of migrants. The mayors present defended their sanctuary city policies, arguing that they promote public safety by encouraging undocumented immigrants to cooperate with law enforcement without fear of deportation. They also highlighted the strain on their city resources and called for increased federal support. However, Higgins’ testimony and the presence of the Hayes family served as a powerful counterpoint, emphasizing the potential human cost of these policies and fueling the debate over immigration enforcement in the United States.
