(NewsNation) — An invitation for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to appear before the House Oversight Committee is under legal review, according to the city’s legal counsel.
Appearing at a news conference Tuesday, Johnson said Chicago is standing firm in its status as a “welcoming city” and will not be made to forfeit its humanity.
“We will not surrender that,” he said.
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The city’s legal counsel said an invitation for Johnson to appear before Congress is under review but did not comment further on how the city might respond.
Johnson detailed efforts to empower citizens, including the publication of “Know Your Rights” guides and working with community organizations, schools, hospitals, businesses and houses of worship to ensure the needs of those groups are being met.
So far, Johnson said there is no evidence that people have failed to report crimes because of fear of deportation. He said that no one should fear coming forward if they are a victim of a crime because they do not have documents.
He urged citizens to familiarize themselves with the laws to protect themselves and their neighbors. City officials said they believe 100 people in the greater Chicagoland area have been detained as a result of immigration actions.
Johnson also noted that people without documents who have been convicted of serious crimes have always been subject to deportation and reiterated that being a welcoming city simply means city authorities do not do the work of immigration enforcement that falls under the duty of the federal government.
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“We stand together firmly in our welcoming city status as well as our commitment to protecting all residents of the city of Chicago no matter where you come from or how long you’ve lived here,” Johnson said.
Federal funding freeze
Johnson also addressed the freeze put on federal financial assistance, noting that it could affect a wide variety of services that people rely on. The city said the order is under legal review to determine exactly what impact it will have on projects and funding.
“There’s a real goal here to sow fear into the American people,” Johnson said.
Johnson said President Donald Trump has failed to address the concerns of everyday Americans worried about how to afford rent, child care and groceries, all of which could be impacted by the freeze.
“There’s no answer from this administration,” Johnson said, regarding Americans’ concerns over basic needs.
City officials said since the election, they have been working on ways to continue to protect and serve residents during changes put into place by the new administration.
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“I wish I had a better understanding of why this administration has shown such disdain for the working people,” Johnson said.
He noted that American taxpayers expect a return on their tax dollars in the form of investment in society and programs that help people meet basic needs like child care and housing.
