A House committee hearing on “sanctuary cities” descended into chaos on Tuesday as Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) engaged in a heated exchange. The confrontation began when Pressley attempted to submit articles into the congressional record, prompting Comer to push back, accusing her and other Democrats of turning the hearing into a spectacle for media attention.
Pressley became increasingly assertive as she insisted on her procedural right to cite a controversial statistic: “Data from Texas shows that U.S.-born Americans commit more rape and murder than immigrants.” The assertion, often made by left-wing politicians to minimize concerns about illegal immigration and crime, elicited visible frustration from Comer and other Republicans on the committee.
Pressley, appearing unwilling to yield, continued raising her voice and cutting in. “I am reclaiming my time. You do not get to dictate how I recite the articles for the record,” she shouted. Comer clapped back: “This trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committees so you can get on MSNBC is going to end. We’re not going to put up with it.” Holding his ground, he denied Pressley’s recognition as she tried to keep speaking over him. “No! No! You know the process of unanimous consent. You are not recognized!” he fired back.
Pressley (D-MA), a key member of the far-left “Squad,” has frequently sparred with Republicans on crime and immigration, using emotionally charged rhetoric to advance her agenda. Meanwhile, Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and his GOP colleagues have been working to hold Democratic-led cities accountable for rising crime and policies that encourage illegal immigration.
The tense congressional hearing on Wednesday put sanctuary city policies in the spotlight as Republican lawmakers clashed with Democratic mayors over immigration enforcement and public safety. The House Oversight Committee heard testimony from the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City, all of whom defended their cities’ policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Republicans, led by Comer (R-KY), argued that sanctuary city policies create safe havens for criminals by blocking local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration agents. Comer and other GOP lawmakers contended that these policies increase crime, strain local resources, and exacerbate the migrant crisis as illegal border crossings surge.
They also accused Democratic leaders of neglecting public safety concerns tied to illegal immigration. In response, Democratic mayors pushed back, insisting that their policies are intended to foster trust within immigrant communities, rather than protect criminals.
