Well, folks, it looks like the sanctuary city showdown just got real. On Wednesday, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) didn’t just grill four Democrat mayors over their refusal to comply with federal immigration laws—she dropped the hammer, announcing that she is officially referring them to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution.
And who are the lucky recipients of this legal headache? None other than Eric Adams (New York City), Michelle Wu (Boston), Brandon Johnson (Chicago), and Mike Johnston (Denver)—the mayors of some of the biggest sanctuary cities in America, and the ones most aggressively resisting President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
I just referred the sanctuary city mayors to the Department of Justice for CRIMINAL investigations based on evidence from their own comments and policies, proving that they were breaking federal law.
Open borders ideologies hurt people on both sides. If you hold federal office… pic.twitter.com/wt2swTOnru
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) March 5, 2025
Luna pulled no punches in her remarks before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, citing Title 8, U.S.C. § 1324, a federal statute that makes it a crime to “conceal, harbor, or shield from detection” illegal aliens. This law has long been pointed to by former Border Czar Tom Homan, who has argued that officials aiding illegal immigration should be held accountable under it.
“To me, after this line of questioning, it’s very clear that these policies that you have all implicated are active and alive and well in your cities, are in direct violation with Title 8, U.S.C. § 1324 and is a federal offense,” Luna stated bluntly.
And then, the bombshell:
“Which is why, unfortunately, based on your responses, I’m going to be criminally referring you to the Department of Justice for investigation. And as soon as I leave here, these will be going over to Pam Bondi.”
This DOJ will NEVER apologize for taking down dangerous criminals and getting them off our streets.
Thank you to the brave law enforcement officer in Boston who stepped up to protect those in need.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) March 3, 2025
For those keeping score, Pam Bondi—the former Florida Attorney General and a staunch Trump ally—is now running the DOJ, and she’s made it very clear that she won’t be playing games when it comes to illegal immigration.
While actual prosecution under Title 8, U.S.C. § 1324 requires clear evidence of intent and knowledge, Luna’s referral means that Bondi’s DOJ will now be looking into whether these mayors knowingly violated federal law. And judging by Bondi’s own track record and recent statements, this is not a woman who is going to sit back and let sanctuary city officials get a free pass.
Case in point? Michelle Wu’s recent gaffe, when she offered condolences—not to victims—but to a knife-wielding suspect who allegedly tried to stab two people.
Bondi torched Wu over that one, firing off on X (formerly Twitter):
“This DOJ will NEVER apologize for taking down dangerous criminals and getting them off our streets. Politicians who want to apologize to criminals should not be in office!”
And it’s not just Wu in the hot seat. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston had already been warned about his resistance to federal immigration law before Bondi’s confirmation. He even went as far as to say that his city’s defiance of Trump’s immigration enforcement was akin to Tiananmen Square—because apparently, standing against illegal immigration is just like rolling tanks through protesters.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says that the mayor of Denver will be removed from office if he resists federal law enforcement officials who are deporting illegal aliens: “It’s a form of insurrection” pic.twitter.com/P9e4fVxVxu
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 24, 2024
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has already weighed in on that nonsense, making it clear that if Democrat officials think they can openly defy federal law, they’re in for a rude awakening.
“The mayor of Denver, if he’s going to resist federal law, which is a long-standing history of the supremacy of federal law, if he’s going to resist that, it will go all the way to the Supreme Court,” Paul told Face the Nation.
This isn’t just rhetoric. In January, a DOJ memo specifically instructed federal prosecutors to identify and investigate any state or local officials who “threaten to impede” the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The memo made it crystal clear:
“Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests.
The U.S. Attorney’s Offices and litigating components of the Department of Justice shall investigate incidents involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution.”
Now that Luna has made the criminal referral, Bondi has everything she needs to launch an official investigation into these mayors. And with Trump back in office, the days of sanctuary cities getting away with defying immigration law are numbered.
