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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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Republican Representative James Comer claimed Wednesday during a hearing on sanctuary city policies that he did not think "anyone is calling for mass deportations"
The Kentucky lawmaker was responding to Boston's Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu, who said at a House of Representatives committee hearing she supported immigration reform but not mass deportations.
"I must add I don't think anyone's calling for mass deportations," Comer said, with another participant heard saying: "Wait, what?"
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Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has openly called for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, touting figures upward of 11 million people who could be removed from the country during his presidential election campaign and after his return to office.
What To Know
As chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Comer invited four Democratic mayors to Capitol Hill for a hearing on their so-called sanctuary policies, which the GOP sees as blocking federal immigration enforcement.
During the hearing Wednesday morning, Republicans on the committee quizzed Wu, alongside New York City's Eric Adams, Denver's Mike Johnston, and Chicago's Brandon Johnson, on how their policies had impacted the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
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Wisconsin Representative Glenn Grothman asked each mayor whether they believed the U.S. "should have an immigration law" and that if this was broken, immigrants should be deported.
"Our immigration system is broken. We have not had comprehensive immigration reform since 1986," Johnson answered. Grothman cut him off and offered Wu the chance to answer.
"May I answer fully?" she responded, before telling the committee she believed the U.S. needed immigration law that included "secure borders, comprehensive and consistent compassionate pathways to residency and citizenship, resources to adjudicate complexities in the law."
"At the same time, I do not support mass deportation. That would be devastating for our economy, and there are millions of people who are running our small businesses, going to our schools," Wu added before being cut short.
At this point, Comer claimed that no one was calling for mass deportations.
The policy was a cornerstone of Trump's election campaign, echoed by Republicans in Congress and GOP supporters who were seen holding signs that read "Mass Deportations Now" at the Republican National Convention in August. It saw positive polling numbers from Republicans and Democrats in the run-up to Election Day and the weeks after.
The threat of mass deportations has caused widespread fear among immigrant communities, particularly for those without legal status who have not committed any criminal offenses while in the U.S. awaiting visas or adjustment of status.
Johnston said moments earlier that many of those at risk of deportation were claiming asylum but were on hold in a system with a seven-year backlog.
All four mayors called for lawmakers on the committee and their colleagues to work to improve the country's immigration system.
What People Are Saying
Oversight Committee Democrats, on X, formerly Twitter: "Chairman Comer just claimed that no one is calling for mass deportations. That's a lie."
White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Politico in February: "After four years of a lackadaisical approach to border security and immigration, every lever of executive power is now being marshaled to enforce our laws, mass deport criminal illegal immigrants, safeguard our borders, and put American citizens first."
President Donald Trump in executive order "Protecting The American People Against Invasion" on January 20: "...the Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly take appropriate action to use all other provisions of the immigration laws or any other Federal law...to ensure the efficient and expedited removal of aliens from the United States."
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in a statement following Trump's address to Congress Tuesday: "Congress must answer the President's call to pass more funding to finish the construction of the border wall and to carry out mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens."
What Happens Next
ICE has already ramped up its enforcement actions since January 20, with other federal agents drafted in to help with the task of arresting illegal immigrants—primarily those suspected of carrying out crimes.
While deportation numbers have not been widely shared, the Trump administration is expected to continue focusing on delivering on its promises.
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