The Windy City's Mayor, Brandon Johnson, has been named the worst "sanctuary mayor" in the United States, according to a list published by the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI).
This conservative immigration group, based in Washington, D.C., has ranked the leaders of several infamous sanctuary cities that are known for their reluctance to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Among these leaders are New York City's Mayor Eric Adams and Washington, D.C.'s Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Johnson, who assumed office in April 2023, has been singled out by the IRLI for his controversial actions. As reported by the Daily Caller, the Democratic mayor has been criticized for signing an executive order that reaffirms Chicago as a "welcoming and sanctuary" city for illegal immigrants. He has also been condemned for establishing an office dedicated to supporting unlawful migrants and for seemingly attributing the city's crime wave over the 4th of July weekend to former President Richard Nixon.
"Johnsons anti-border policies have received pushback from Chicago residents and city council meetings on the subject have faced protests from angry citizens wondering why their needs are being ignored in favor of illegal aliens," the IRLI stated about the mayor. The organization further criticized Johnson, stating, "Unfortunately for these residents, Johnson doesnt work for them. He works for anti-borders interest groups. This makes Johnson Americas worst sanctuary mayor."
Chicago, a city that has long identified as a "sanctuary" city, is grappling with the nationwide asylum crisis. The city has welcomed over 43,000 migrants, many of whom were transported from Texas, since August 2022. The Chicago Tribune reports that the city has spent approximately $150 million to provide housing and food for these migrants. Johnson, during a June press conference, described the current migrant housing situation as "unsustainable" while defending the city's decision to evict migrants from shelters.
The city is also bracing for the arrival of thousands more migrants ahead of the Democratic National Convention later this month. Sanctuary cities, although lacking an official definition, are generally understood as cities that limit local law enforcement's ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This often results in local police being prohibited from honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests, preventing them from notifying deportation officers before a foreign national is released from local custody.
The IRLI argues that such policies attract criminal illegal migrants to these jurisdictions. "Sanctuary policies are some of the biggest magnets drawing illegal aliens into this country, and sanctuary mayors are the loudest advocates of those policies," stated Dale Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of IRLI. He added, "While they claim to be more compassionate than their critics, the policies of these mayors are actually causing unacceptable levels of overcrowding, criminal activity and death in their communities."
Following Johnson on the IRLI's list are Mayors Eric Adams of New York City, Michael Johnston of Denver, Kelly Girtz of Athens, Georgia, Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., Karen Bass of Los Angeles, Mary-Ann Baldwin of Raleigh, North Carolina, Reed Guscoria of Trenton, New Jersey, Ron Nirenberg of San Antonio, and Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento. These leaders, like Johnson, are being scrutinized for their sanctuary policies, which critics argue prioritize the needs of illegal immigrants over those of their own citizens.
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