Johnson summoned to testify before Congress on Chicago's sanctuary city policies

CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been asked to appear before Congress next month to discuss the city’s status as a sanctuary city.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform sent a formal letter to City Hall on Monday, requesting Johnson’s participation in a Feb. 11 public hearing on Capitol Hill.

What we know:

The letter cites concerns about the impact of sanctuary policies in Chicago and three other cities—New York, Boston, and Denver. It claims such policies fail to comply with federal law and suggests, "Citizens of all four cities have suffered due to sanctuary policies."

Chicago has been the target of recent ICE operations under President Donald Trump. On Sunday, ICE officials announced they had targeted approximately 300 individuals in Chicago as part of a larger effort that resulted in 956 arrests nationwide.

Mayor Johnson has urged residents to stay informed about their rights in light of the heightened enforcement actions.

Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker criticized the ICE raids, telling CNN, "They’re going after people who are law-abiding. These are not people causing problems in our country, and what we need is a path to citizenship for them."

What we don't know:

It is unclear whether Mayor Johnson will accept the invitation to testify. FOX 32 has reached out to the mayor for comment, but we've yet to hear back.

The mayors of New York, Boston, and Denver reportedly received similar letters, but their responses remain unknown.