Mayor Wu Agrees to Testify Before Congress on Boston’s Status as Sanctuary City

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 announced on Monday that she will head to Washington, D.C., to testify on Boston’s status as a sanctuary city before the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government.

Two weeks after Wu gave birth to her third child, Congress sent the Boston mayor a letter requesting she testify at a public hearing. While the hearing is currently scheduled for Feb. 11, Wu requested additional time to ensure she is physically prepared for the trip.

Wu will join three other mayors from Democratic sanctuary cities, including New York City, Denver, and Chicago. In the Jan. 27 letter, Rep. James R. Comer (R-K.Y.) wrote that the four cities “stand out in their abject failure to comply with federal law.”

The public hearing comes amid the Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdown, which has brought ICE raids and arrests throughout the U.S. While Massachusetts state officials committed to shielding residents from Trump’s executive orders, governor Maura T. Healey ’92 has emphasized that Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state.

Following the 2024 presidential election, Wu committed to maintaining Boston’s status as a sanctuary city.

“We want immigrants to know that it is safe for everyone, to be able to feel comfortable reaching out for emergency services, to report a crime, to ask for help, and generally to be part of our community,” Wu said in a November interview with WBUR.

The Boston Trust Act ensures that all individuals living in Boston — regardless of immigration status — can call first responders to address a crisis without a threat of deportation. The act, which was passed in 2014 and reaffirmed in 2019, solidifies Boston’s status as a sanctuary city.

Wu — who is gearing up for a reelection bid in November— is not taking maternity leave. In a press conference, Wu said that she and other mayors are focused on “getting their job done everyday.”

“Our job is the one that people rely on to get their kids to school, to get around the city,” she said. “That’s our focus — is making sure we’re there to serve our residents.

—Staff writer Megan L. Blonigen can be reached at megan.blonigen@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X at @MeganBlonigen.

—Staff writer Frances Y. Yong can be reached at frances.yong@thecrimson.com.